DETAILED ACTION
The following action is in response to application 18/994,232 filed on January 14, 2025.
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 Interpretations
With regard to claims 5 and 6, the limitation of the shape is “continuously formed in the vehicle front-and-rear direction on a corrugated-plate surface of the corrugated-plate shape” does not require the shape to be formed along the entire length of the corrugated-plate shape in forward-and-rear direction. This limitation has been interpreted as the shape being continuous in the forward-and-rear direction.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
Claim(s) 1-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Cooper (US 20190256150 from IDS; see annotated Fig. 2 below for clarity).
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With regard to claim 1, Cooper teaches a vehicle impact absorbing structure that absorbs energy during a collision on the side of a vehicle, the vehicle impact absorbing structure comprising: a side sill 16/18 formed in a hollow shape in a vehicle front-and-rear direction; and an impact absorbing member 14 disposed in the side sill, wherein the impact absorbing member is formed in a corrugated-plate shape in the vehicle front-and-rear direction (Fig. 2), and is provided, between ridge lines of the corrugated- plate shape, the ridge lines being arranged in the vehicle front-and-rear direction, with a reinforcing shape 42/68 that prevents or suppresses falling deformation of the ridge lines in the vehicle front-and-rear direction. With regard to claim 2, Cooper teaches the structure, wherein the reinforcing shape 42/68 is a bead shape. With regard to claim 3, Cooper teaches the structure, wherein the bead shape 68 is a recessed shape recessed downward from a corrugated-plate-shape- forming surface. With regard to claim 4, Cooper teaches the structure, wherein the bead shape 42 is a protruding shape protruding upward from a corrugated-plate-shape- forming surface. With regard to claim 5, Cooper teaches the structure, wherein the protruding shape 42 is continuously formed in the vehicle front-and-rear direction on a corrugated-plate surface of the corrugated-plate shape (Fig. 2). With regard to claim 6, Cooper teaches the structure, wherein the recessed shape 68 is continuously formed in the vehicle front-and-rear direction on a corrugated-plate surface of the corrugated-plate shape (Fig. 2).
Suggestions for Applicant
Given the applied and cited art (by both applicant and in the current office action), it is suggested applicant claim the embodiment of Fig. 3. Some key limitation may include:
The corrugated-plate shape comprising peaks and valleys and side walls between the peak and valleys.
Reinforcing shapes comprising protruding members that run in the forward-and-rear direction on both the valleys and peaks.
Reinforcing shapes comprising recess members that run vertically along the side walls of the corrugated-plate shape.
Although point 3 is illustrated in the cited Alwan (US 20170080980), the combination of that and the protruding longitudinal reinforcing shape members on both the peaks and valleys may not be an obvious modification.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Alwan (US 20170080980) has been cited tosh wo a similar structure comprising: a sill 30, an impact absorbing member 90 that is a corrugated-plate shape with recessed bead reinforcing shapes 38 along the side walls of the corrugated-plate shape.
Son (US 20220041219) has been cited tosh wo a similar structure comprising: a sill 11/12, an impact absorbing member 20 that is a corrugated-plate shape with recessed bead reinforcing shapes 21d.
Bodin (US 20230202564) has been cited tosh wo a similar structure comprising: a sill 100, an impact absorbing member 104 that is a corrugated-plate shape with recessed bead reinforcing shapes along the entire length of the corrugated-plate shape (Fig. 9).
Suzuki (US 20230271649) has been cited tosh wo a similar structure comprising: an impact absorbing member 115 that is a corrugated-plate shape with recessed 150 and protruding (between two 150s; Fig. 2) bead reinforcing shapes.
Kuipers (US 20230303179) has been cited tosh wo a similar structure comprising: a sill 12/14, an impact absorbing member 40 that is a corrugated-plate shape with recessed 970 and protruding 870 bead reinforcing shapes.
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/ROGER L PANG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3655
/ROGER L. PANG/
Examiner
Art Unit 3655B
August 3, 2026
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