DETAILED ACTION
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)(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) 1-17 and 19-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Fox et al. (WO 2018/005197).
Fox et al discloses in figures 2A – 8F, 42A – 42C a component (200, 400, 600) for a vehicle interior configured to facilitate deployment of an airbag (AB) through an airbag door comprising: a structural substrate comprising a fiber panel (311, 610a); a structure (360, 460, 620) formed on the fiber panel; wherein the structure comprises injection-molded resin; wherein the fiber panel comprises a base area and a weakened area (310, 410, 630); wherein the weakened area comprises a recess comprising a profile; wherein the fiber panel has a reduced thickness in the recess of the profile; wherein the profile of the recess is configured to direct the formation of the airbag door at the weakened area of the fiber panel during deployment of the airbag; wherein the recess of the weakened area comprises a generally varying form (V-shaped, varies in depth relative to the surface) formed to provide the weakened area in the fiber panel; wherein the structure comprises a set of ribs (620a) at the weakened area of the fiber panel configured to direct the formation of the airbag door; wherein the structure comprises a framework (figure 42C) comprising a reinforcement formed on the fiber panel; wherein the fiber panel comprises an inner surface and an outer surface; wherein the recess comprising the profile is formed into the inner surface of the fiber panel and the structure comprising the set of ribs is formed onto the inner surface of the fiber panel (claims 1, 17). the fiber panel comprises an inner surface and an outer surface; wherein the recess comprising the profile is formed into the inner surface of the fiber panel as the structure comprising the set of ribs is formed onto the inner surface of the fiber panel; wherein the recess is configured to form a seam (10) for an opening through the weakened area of the fiber panel for the airbag door (claim 2). the profile comprises a curved form (claim 3). wherein injection-molded resin of the structure comprising injection-molded resin is in/to the fiber panel (claims 4, 5). the profile comprises a variable depth (claim 6). the profile comprises a transition area (claim 7). the transition area comprises a thickness less than a nominal thickness of the base area of the fiber panel (claim 8). the fiber panel has a nominal average thickness in the base area and the reduced thickness at the weakened area (claim 9). the recess for the weakened area comprises a center recess (claim 10). the weakened area comprises the recess between the set of ribs (460) comprising the structure comprising injection-molded resin on the fiber panel (claim 11). the recess comprises a formed recess and/or an indentation (claim 12). the recess comprises a groove; wherein the groove is formed in the fiber panel (claim 13). the weakened area comprises a generally H-shaped area and/or a generally U-shaped area (claim 16). The component comprising at least one of (a) a trim panel; (b) an instrument panel; (c) a door panel; (d) a pillar (claim 20).
Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Stroebe et al. (WO 2020/00628).
Stroebe discloses in figures 1A – 1F, 4A-4F 10A – 10D a component (200, 1000) for a vehicle interior configured to facilitate deployment of an airbag (AB) through an airbag door comprising: a structural substrate comprising a fiber panel (210); a structure (202r) formed on the fiber panel; wherein the structure comprises injection-molded resin; wherein the fiber panel comprises a base area and a weakened area (210r) (paragraph 0059); wherein the weakened area comprises a recess comprising a profile; wherein the fiber panel has a reduced thickness in the recess of the profile; wherein the profile of the recess is configured to direct the formation of the airbag door at the weakened area of the fiber panel during deployment of the airbag; wherein the recess of the weakened area comprises a generally varying form (V-shaped, varies in depth relative to the surface) formed to provide the weakened area in the fiber panel; wherein the structure comprises a set of ribs (figures 4E, 10A, 10B) at the weakened area of the fiber panel configured to direct the formation of the airbag door; wherein the structure comprises a framework (figure 4E, 4F) comprising a reinforcement formed on the fiber panel; wherein the fiber panel comprises an inner surface and an outer surface; wherein the recess comprising the profile is formed into the inner surface of the fiber panel and the structure comprising the set of ribs is formed onto the inner surface of the fiber panel (claims 1, 17). the fiber panel comprises an inner surface and an outer surface; wherein the recess comprising the profile is formed into the inner surface of the fiber panel as the structure comprising the set of ribs is formed onto the inner surface of the fiber panel; wherein the recess is configured to form a seam (R) for an opening through the weakened area of the fiber panel for the airbag door (ABD) (claim 2). the profile comprises a curved form (claim 3). wherein injection-molded resin of the structure comprising injection-molded resin is in/to the fiber panel (claims 4, 5). the profile comprises a variable depth (claim 6). the profile comprises a transition area (claim 7). the transition area comprises a thickness less than a nominal thickness of the base area of the fiber panel (claim 8). the fiber panel has a nominal average thickness in the base area and the reduced thickness at the weakened area (claim 9). the recess for the weakened area comprises a center recess (claim 10). the weakened area comprises the recess between a set of ribs (220, 202r) comprising the structure comprising injection-molded resin on the fiber panel (claim 11). the recess comprises a formed recess and/or an indentation (claim 12). the recess comprises a groove; wherein the groove is formed in the fiber panel (claim 13). wherein the profile is formed to provide the weakened area in the fiber panel (claim 14). wherein the structure comprises a set of ribs at the weakened area of the fiber panel; wherein the set of ribs is configured to direct the formation of the airbag door (claims 15, 19). the weakened area comprises a generally H-shaped area and/or a generally U-shaped area (claim 16). The component further comprising a cover (C) on the fiber panel (claim 18). The component comprising at least one of (a) a trim panel; (b) an instrument panel; (c) a door panel; (d) a pillar (claim 20).
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 14 and 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as anticipated by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as obvious over Stroebe et al. (WO 2020/00628).
Stroebe discloses a straight line. However at the time of filing PHOSITA would have found it obvious to use a wavy line, since it has been held to be within the general skill of a worker in the art to select a known shape or pattern on the basis of its suitability for the intended use as a matter of obvious design choice. the generally varying form of the recess of the weakened area of the fiber panel comprises a wavy line (claim 14). the set of ribs at the weakened area of the fiber panel comprises a generally varying form comprising a wavy line (claim 15).
Claim(s) 14 and 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as anticipated by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as obvious over Fox et al. (WO 2018/005197).
Fox discloses a straight line. However at the time of filing PHOSITA would have found it obvious to use a wavy line, since it has been held to be within the general skill of a worker in the art to select a known shape or pattern on the basis of its suitability for the intended use as a matter of obvious design choice. the generally varying form of the recess of the weakened area of the fiber panel comprises a wavy line (claim 14). the set of ribs at the weakened area of the fiber panel comprises a generally varying form comprising a wavy line (claim 15).
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-20 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Salandre et al (US 2019/0359164).
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Nicole Verley whose telephone number is (571)270-3542. The examiner can normally be reached 10AM-6PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jason Shanske can be reached at (571) 270-5985. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/NICOLE T VERLEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3614
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