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 Objections
Claim 5 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 5 recites “second weakened portions” which has no proper antecedent basis in the claims because no “first weakened portions” have been recited in this line of claims. For purposes of expediting examination “second weakened portions” will be interpreted as --vertical weakened portions--.
In claim 6 “a first weaned portion” will be interpreted as --a horizontal weakened
portion-- in order to be consistent with claim 5.
In claim7, “third weakened portions” has no proper antecedent basis in the claims since no first and second weakened portions have been recited in this line of claims. “Third weakened portions” will be interpreted simply as --weakened portions--.
In claim 9, “second weakened portions,” “third weakened portions,” and “fourth weakened portions” each have no proper antecedent basis in the claims because no “first weakened “ portion has been recited in this line of claims. For purposes of expending examination, these terms will be interpreted as --first weakened portions,-- --second weakened portions-- and --fourth weakened portions,-- respectively.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-12 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.
In claim 1, Applicant recites, “each series portion being provided with an opening portion that is open in the direction in which the impact-absorbing portion is disposed.” This language is unclear because it does not appear that a structure can be “disposed” in a direction. That is, “disposed” means arranged or placed, and “arranged” or “placed” in a direction is unclear since the impact-absorbing portion extends in at least two directions (“FR” and “LH” according to Fig. 1 of Applicant’s drawings). For purposes of expediting examination this phrase will be interpreted as --each series portion being provided with an opening portion that is open in the in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the plurality of series portions.--
In claim 8, “half a wavelength” has no meaning in structures that do not involve waves.
In claim 12, “the impact-absorbing portion is each of left and right side members” is vague and indefinite. It appears that Applicant is attempting to recite that there are two impact-absorbing portions. Perhaps Applicant intended to recite, --wherein the impact-absorbing portion comprises two impact-absorbing portions, one of which is a left-side member and the other of which is a right-side member disposed along a vehicle front-and-rear directions at respective width end portions of a vehicle.--
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-12 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Claims 1-12 have been indicated as containing allowable subject matter primarily for the “disposition positions in the load application direct of at least some of the ribs being offset between adjacent series portions.”
The closest prior art is to Yang et al. (EP 4197888) and Rai et al. (US 2023/0373563). However, neither Yang et al. or Rai et al. teach any offset of the ribs between adjacent series portions.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL J COLILLA whose telephone number is (571)272-2157. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30 - 4:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Amy Weisberg can be reached at 571-270-5500. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Daniel J Colilla/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3612
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