DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
Paragraph 0028: The phrase “the assemble productivity can be improved” contains grammatical errors.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claims 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 13, 14, and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ameloot et al. (US 20110187155 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Ameloot teaches “A side structure of a vehicle body comprising:
a rear quarter assembly (inner side panel, see paragraph 0006) having a quarter glass opening flange (inner window area and attachment flange, paragraph 0006) formed therein;
a side outer assembly connected to the rear quarter assembly (inner and outer panels connected via a pillar, see paragraph 0031); and
a quarter glass opening bracket mounted on the quarter glass opening flange (bracket is connected to flange via window sash, see paragraph 0068) and connected to the side outer assembly (bracket is secured to outer panel, see paragraph 0069).”
Regarding claim 2, Ameloot teaches “The side structure of claim 1, wherein the side outer assembly comprises a quarter glass mount flange (outer panel comprises window sash with flange portion, see paragraph 0055) connected to the quarter glass opening bracket (bracket is connected to flange and sash, see paragraph 0068).”
Regarding claim 4, Ameloot teaches “The side structure of claim 1, wherein the side outer assembly comprises a quarter glassless portion of skin type (optionally removable portions provide windowless outer surface, see paragraph 0037) connected to the quarter glass opening bracket (optionally removable support brackets that span opening, connected to windowless portion via outer panel, see paragraph 0038).”
Regarding claim 6, Ameloot teaches “The side structure of claim 1, wherein the quarter glass opening bracket comprises:
an outer edge connected to the quarter glass opening flange (see Ameloot, Figure 10.1); and
an inner edge extending in a side outward direction through a stepped portion from the outer edge and connected to the side outer assembly (see Ameloot, Figure 10.1).”
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Ameloot, Figure 10.1
Regarding claim 10, Ameloot teaches “The side structure of claim 6, wherein the quarter glass opening bracket further comprises a reinforcement portion connecting to at least a portion of the inner edge (see Ameloot, Figure 6.1).”
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Ameloot, Figure 6.1
Regarding claim 11, Ameloot teaches “The side structure of claim 10, wherein at least two split opening sections are formed in the reinforcement portion of the quarter glass opening bracket (see Ameloot, Figure 6.2).”
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Ameloot, Figure 6.2
Regarding claim 12, Ameloot teaches “The side structure of claim 10, wherein at least one slot is formed in the reinforcement portion (see Ameloot, Figure 6.3).”
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Ameloot, Figure 6.3
Regarding claim 13, Ameloot teaches “The side structure of claim 1, wherein the rear quarter assembly is provided by a first assembly process (outer side panels are assembled with the vehicle using conventional means, see paragraph 0054).”
Regarding claim 14, Ameloot teaches “The side structure of claim 13, wherein after the first assembly process, the quarter glass opening bracket mounted on the quarter glass opening flange is provided by a second assembly process performed to connect the quarter glass opening bracket to the quarter glass opening flange (see Ameloot, Figure 10.2).”
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Ameloot, Figure 10.2
Regarding claim 18, Ameloot teaches “A side structure of a vehicle body comprising:
a modular rear quarter assembly having a modular quarter glass opening flange formed therein (inner panel includes attachment flange, see paragraph 0045);
a first side outer assembly or a second side outer assembly connected to the modular rear quarter assembly, wherein the first side outer assembly differs from the second side outer assembly (outer panel can have either have a window or not depending on the removal of modular components, see paragraph 0036); and
a first quarter glass opening bracket or a second quarter glass opening bracket mounted on the modular quarter glass opening flange, wherein the first quarter glass opening bracket (bracket assembly, see paragraph 0069) differs from the second quarter glass opening bracket (removable support bracket, see paragraph 0038),
wherein if the first side outer assembly is connected to the modular rear quarter assembly, then the first quarter glass opening bracket is mounted on the modular quarter glass opening flange, and the first quarter glass opening bracket is connected to the first side outer assembly (bracket assembly accepts window glass for first configuration, see paragraph 0069), and
wherein if the second side outer assembly is connected to the modular rear quarter assembly, then the second quarter glass opening bracket is mounted on the modular quarter glass opening flange, and the second quarter glass opening bracket is connected to the second side outer assembly (support bracket spans windowless area in second configuration, see paragraph 0045).”
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 3, 5, 7-9, 19, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ameloot et al. (US 20110187155 A1), in view of Carrillo Fernandez et al. (US 20230063579 A1).
Regarding claim 3, Ameloot teaches all the limitations of the claims, as applied to claim 2 above, except “the quarter glass opening bracket is connected to the quarter glass opening flange and the quarter glass mount flange by welding.”
However, Carrillo Fernandez teaches that automotive panels and brackets may be fixedly attached with “mechanical fasteners or welding techniques.” (See paragraph 0045)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the earliest effective filing date of the claimed invention, to substitute the fasteners fixedly connecting the quarter glass opening flange and mounting flange as taught by Ameloot, with weldments as taught by Carrillo Fernandez, to more securely connect the components while avoiding the possibility of poor vibration management associated with fasteners, with a reasonable expectation of success.
Regarding claim 5, Ameloot teaches “The side structure of claim 4, and wherein the quarter glass opening bracket is connected to the quarter glassless portion by a sealer (structural adhesive rigidly connects support bracket to windowless portion, see paragraph 0059).”
Ameloot does not teach “the quarter glass opening bracket is connected to the quarter glass opening flange by welding.”
However, Carrillo Fernandez teaches that automotive panels and brackets may be fixedly attached with “mechanical fasteners or welding techniques.” (See paragraph 0045)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the earliest effective filing date of the claimed invention, to substitute the fasteners fixedly connecting the quarter glass opening flange and support bracket as taught by Ameloot, with weldments as taught by Carrillo Fernandez, to more securely connect the components while avoiding the possibility of poor vibration management associated with fasteners, with a reasonable expectation of success.
Regarding claim 7, Ameloot teaches all the limitations of the claims, as applied to claim 6 above, except “The side structure of claim 6, wherein the outer edge is connected by welding to the quarter glass opening flange.”
However, Carrillo Fernandez teaches that automotive panels and brackets may be fixedly attached with “mechanical fasteners or welding techniques.” (See paragraph 0045)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the earliest effective filing date of the claimed invention, to substitute the fasteners fixedly connecting the quarter glass opening flange and outer edge as taught by Ameloot, with weldments as taught by Carrillo Fernandez, to more securely connect the components while avoiding the possibility of poor vibration management associated with fasteners, with a reasonable expectation of success.
Regarding claim 8, Ameloot, in view of Carrillo Fernandez, teaches all the limitations of the claims, as applied to claim 7 above, except “wherein the inner edge is connected to a quarter glass mount flange formed on the side outer assembly by welding”
However, Carrillo Fernandez teaches that automotive panels and brackets may be fixedly attached with “mechanical fasteners or welding techniques.” (See paragraph 0045)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the earliest effective filing date of the claimed invention, to substitute the fasteners fixedly connecting the quarter glass mount flange and inner edge as taught by Ameloot, with weldments as taught by Carrillo Fernandez, to more securely connect the components while avoiding the possibility of poor vibration management associated with fasteners, with a reasonable expectation of success.
Regarding claim 9, Ameloot, in view of Carrillo Fernandez, teaches “The side structure of claim 7, wherein the inner edge is positioned at a predetermined interval from a quarter glassless portion formed on the side outer assembly, and wherein the inner edge is connected to the quarter glassless portion by a sealer (structural adhesive rigidly connects inner edge to windowless portion, see paragraph 0059).”
Regarding claim 19, Ameloot teaches “The side structure of claim 18, wherein if the first side outer assembly is connected to the modular rear quarter assembly, then the first side outer assembly comprises a quarter glass mount flange connected to the first quarter glass opening bracket (bracket is connected to flange and sash, see paragraph 0068).”
Ameloot does not teach “the first quarter glass opening bracket is connected to the modular quarter glass opening flange and the quarter glass mount flange by welding.”
However, Carrillo Fernandez teaches that automotive panels and brackets may be fixedly attached with “mechanical fasteners or welding techniques.” (See paragraph 0045)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the earliest effective filing date of the claimed invention, to substitute the fasteners fixedly connecting the quarter glass opening flange and mounting flange as taught by Ameloot, with weldments as taught by Carrillo Fernandez, to more securely connect the components while avoiding the possibility of poor vibration management associated with fasteners, with a reasonable expectation of success.
Regarding claim 20, Ameloot teaches “The side structure of claim 18, wherein if the second side outer assembly is connected to the modular rear quarter assembly, then the second side outer assembly comprises a quarter glassless portion of skin type connected to the second quarter glass opening bracket (optionally removable support brackets that span opening, connected to windowless portion via outer panel, see paragraph 0038), and the second quarter glass opening bracket is connected to the quarter glassless portion by a sealer (structural adhesive rigidly connects support bracket to windowless portion, see paragraph 0059).”
Ameloot does not teach “the second quarter glass opening bracket is connected to the modular quarter glass opening flange by welding.”
However, Carrillo Fernandez teaches that automotive panels and brackets may be fixedly attached with “mechanical fasteners or welding techniques.” (See paragraph 0045)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the earliest effective filing date of the claimed invention, to substitute the fasteners fixedly connecting the quarter glass opening flange and support bracket as taught by Ameloot, with weldments as taught by Carrillo Fernandez, to more securely connect the components while avoiding the possibility of poor vibration management associated with fasteners, with a reasonable expectation of success.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 15-17 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.
The primary reason for the indication of allowable subject matter in claims 15-17 is the inclusion in the claim of limitations directed to “after the second assembly process, the quarter glass opening bracket connected to the side outer assembly is provided by a third assembly process performed to connect the quarter glass opening bracket and the side outer assembly” Such limitations, in combination with the rest of the limitations of the claims, are not disclosed or suggested by the prior art of record. Prior art fails to teach an order of assembly in which the glass mounting bracket is fixed to the assembly before the inner and outer panels are joined, rendering claim 15 allowable if rewritten to be independent. Claims 16 and 17 would become allowable by virtue of dependence on claim 15.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
The cited references all disclose modular vehicle frames.
Song et al. (US 12280829 B2)
Imajyo et al. (US 4973103 A)
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JACK R CATALANO whose telephone number is (571)270-0470. The examiner can normally be reached Monday Friday, 8 a.m. 5 p.m. ET..
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Vivek Koppikar can be reached at (571) 272-5109. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JRC/
/VIVEK D KOPPIKAR/Supervisory Patent Examiner
Art Unit 3612
June 18, 2026
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