Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-6, 8 and 14-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Hong et al. (US 20200317272 A1).
Regarding Claim 1, Hong teaches a front structure of a vehicle body, the front structure comprising: a dash panel (Fig. 1 element 17); and a dash reinforcement apparatus connected to a rear of the dash panel (Shown in Fig. 1), the dash reinforcement apparatus comprising: a longitudinal member arranged in a length direction of the vehicle body (Fig. 1 longitudinal members coupled to element 17); and a transverse member arranged in a width direction of the vehicle body (Fig. 1 central transverse support structure).
Regarding Claim 2, Hong teaches the limitations set forth in Claim 1 and further discloses a chassis frame, wherein the dash panel is disposed on an upper portion of the chassis frame (Fig. 1 elements 15 and 16).
Regarding Claim 3, Hong teaches the limitations set forth in Claim 2 and further discloses the transverse member is one of a pair of lower outer transverse members (Fig. 1 elements 12) that overlaps a connection portion (Fig. 1 elements 70) of the chassis frame and the dash panel and is arranged on outer sides in a width direction of the dash panel, respectively (Shown in Fig. 1).
Regarding Claim 4, Hong teaches the limitations set forth in Claim 3 and further discloses a lower connecting transverse member disposed between the lower outer transverse members arranged on the outer sides (Fig. 1 central transverse frame member).
Regarding Claim 5, Hong teaches the limitations set forth in Claim 4 and further discloses the longitudinal member is one of a pair of longitudinal direction main members, which is arranged on both sides of the dash panel and connected to the lower outer transverse members, respectively (Fig. 1 elements 13).
Regarding Claim 6, Hong teaches the limitations set forth in Claim 5 and further discloses an upper transverse direction member connected to upper portions of the longitudinal direction main members (Fig. 1 element 14).
Regarding Claim 8, Hong teaches the limitations set forth in Claim 6 and further discloses a central transverse direction member disposed between the lower outer transverse members and the upper transverse direction member (Fig. 1 transverse member between elements 12).
Regarding Claim 14, Hong teaches the limitations set forth in Claim 5 and further discloses the longitudinal member further comprises a longitudinal direction sub-member disposed between the longitudinal direction main members (Fig. 1 central longitudinal members on surface of element 17).
Regarding Claim 15, Hong teaches the limitations set forth in Claim 1 and further discloses a reinforcement unit flange connected to the dash panel; and a reinforcement unit body formed protruding from the reinforcement unit flange (Fig. 1 shows reinforcement structure protruding from the flanged elements connected to dash panel 17).
Regarding Claim 16, Hong teaches the limitations set forth in Claim 1 and further discloses a fender apron reinforcement member connected to a front of the dash panel, wherein at least a portion of the longitudinal members overlaps the fender apron reinforcement member (Fig. 1 element 11a).
Claim(s) 17-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Hong et al. (US 20200317272 A1).
Regarding Claim 17, Hong teaches a vehicle comprising: a vehicle body (Fig. 1 element 10); a dash panel (Fig. 1 element 17) coupled to the vehicle body; and a dash reinforcement apparatus connected to a rear of the dash panel (Shown in fig. 1), the dash reinforcement apparatus comprising: a plurality of longitudinal members arranged in a length direction of the vehicle body (Fig. 1 longitudinal members coupled to element 17); and a plurality of transverse members arranged in a width direction of the vehicle body (Fig. 1 central transverse support structure).
Regarding Claim 18, Hong teaches the limitations set forth in Claim 17 and further discloses a chassis frame, wherein the dash panel is disposed on an upper portion of the chassis frame (Fig. 1 elements 15 and 16).
Regarding Claim 19, Hong teaches the limitations set forth in Claim 18 and further discloses the plurality of transverse members comprises: a pair of lower outer transverse members (Fig. 1 elements 12) which overlaps a connection portion (Fig. 1 elements 70) of the chassis frame and the dash panel and is arranged on outer sides in a width direction of the dash panel, respectively (Shown in Fig. 1); and a lower connecting transverse member disposed between the lower outer transverse members arranged on the outer sides (Fig. 1 central transverse frame member); and the plurality of longitudinal members comprises a pair of longitudinal direction main members, which is arranged on both sides of the dash panel and connected to the lower outer transverse members, respectively (Fig. 1 elements 13).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 7, 9-13 and 20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
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/E.A./Examiner, Art Unit 3644
/Nicholas McFall/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3644
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