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 .
DETAILED CORRESPONDENCE
This is the first Office Action on the merits of Application 18/967,654 filed on 12/4/24. Claims 13-24 are pending. Claims 1-12 have been cancelled due to a preliminary amendment.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 12/4/24 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Objections
Claims 13-24 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 13
Line 7: “”characterized in that” should be amended as -- wherein --.
Claim 16
Line 2: “the majority” should be amended as -- a majority --.
Claim 18
Line 1: “the vehicle” should be amended as -- a vehicle --.
Claim 20
Line 1: “the direction” should be amended as -- a direction --.
Claim 21
Lines 1 & 2: “the vehicle” should be amended as -- a vehicle --.
Line 2: “the central” should be amended as -- a central --.
Claim 22
Line 2: “the vehicle” should be amended as -- a vehicle --.
Line 2: “the height” should be amended as -- a height --.
Claim 23
Line 2: “the vehicle” should be amended as -- a vehicle --.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claims 14, 15, 17, 19 & 24 are also objected to for being dependent upon an objected base claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 22 & 23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 22
Line 1: “a front web”
It is unclear if the front web is referring to the upper or lower front web or that an additional front web is being claimed.
Claim 23
Line 2: “the bead has a width measured along the vertical transverse axis of less than 30 mm, in particular less than 20 mm.”
The limitation is indefinite since it is unclear whether the width of the bead should be less than 30 mm or less than 20 mm.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 13-21 & 24 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the objections stated above.
Claims 22 & 23 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Kaneko ‘911 teaches a bumper join structure and crush box
Kutscher ‘882 teaches a bumper attachment .
Karlsson ‘316 teaches a mounting arrangement for a bumper and crash box.
Honda ‘719 teaches bumper beam mounting structure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HUAN LE whose telephone number is (571)270-3122. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm PST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jacob Scott can be reached on 571-270-3415. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/HUAN LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3655
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