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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because:
Per 37 C.F.R. 1.84(l) all lines, numerals, and letters should be clean, durable, black, and well defined. All of the figures are blurry and include lines, reference characters, and arrows that are not clean and well defined, figures 1-5 are particularly bad in that they are so blurry most features are indecipherable. The only lines in keeping with the standards of 37 C.F.R. are the words defining the axes (e.g. +Z (UP DIRECTION)) and the figures (e.g. FIG. 1)
Per 37 C.F.R. 1.84(q) lead lines are required for every reference character except those indicating the surface or cross section on which they are placed, which should be underlined to indicate the lead line has not been forgotten. Lead lines are shared by some reference characters and in some of the shared lead lines one reference characters is underlined. Each reference character should have its own lead line, if a more general section rather than a specific structure is meant a lead arrow may be used per 37 C.F.R. 1.84(r)(1). Underlines should be removed from the reference characters.
Figure 4 includes reference characters 32b and 32c for the surfaces of the carrier plate, however, only surface 32c is visible as 32b is on the opposite side. As 32b is properly indicated in other figures the reference character for what is not show in figure 4 should be removed.
The leads lines for 780a and 780b in figures 7A and 7B do not point to the same structures. In figure 7A the lead line for 780a appears to point to what is actually 780b and the lead line for 780b points to what appears to be 37.
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the accommodation portion on another side in the width direction of the base portion with respect to the fitting portion of claims 1 and 9 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). The accommodation portions 79 and 81 are never shown in the same figure as the fitting portion 75. No new matter should be entered.
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the rotation prevention claw includes a first claw portion and a second claw portion, and the first claw portion and the second claw portion are disposed away from each other in a direction orthogonal to a width direction of claim 3 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). The first claw portion 77b1 and second claw portion 77b2 are only indicated with separate reference lines in figure 4, which as noted above is too blurry to make out any features, and in all other figures with a single shared reference line, making it impossible to see how they are disposed apart. No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Objections
Claims 1-3, 6, and 9 objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1 lines 8-9 recite “a rotation prevention claw that is provided away from the fitting portion, on one side in a width direction of the base portion,”. The comma separating “the fitting portion” and “on one side” indicates on one side is a separate phrase so the one side is of the base portion; the language issue appears to be complicated by the use of “provided apart from” as opposed to the later recitation of “provided on” for the accommodation portion. It appears from the disclosure that the side is actually of the fitting portion, in which case examiner suggests “a rotation prevention claw is provided on one side of the fitting portion in a width direction of the base portion”. Similar language should be used for the accommodation portion as well.
Examiner notes that a second width direction (a width direction of the carrier plate) and a third width direction (a width direction of the base body) from that of claim 1 (a width direction of the base portion) are recited in claims 2 and 3 respectively. The width directions appear to be the same, i.e. the Y direction in the figures. However, the claims cause confusion as to whether there are one, two, or three width directions, especially as two are defined relative to the base [structure] and all include the antecedent “a”. For clarity examiner suggests “a width direction of the carrier plate” be used as claims 1-8 are directed to the subcombination of the carrier plate so the width direction of the overall plate best encompasses the width direction. The antecedent for claims 2 and 3 would be “the width direction of the carrier plate”. Also, the width is recited in claims 5 and 6 so if the description of the width in claim 1 is changed so to should claims 5 and 6.
Similar issues to those in claim 1 also occur in claim 9.
Claim 2 line 3 recites “a direction orthogonal to a thickness direction of the carrier plate and a width direction of the carrier plate”. The direction orthogonal to the thickness (X direction) and width direction (Y direction) is the Z direction, which is the same as the sliding direction of claim 1.
A similar issue occurs in claim 6.
Claim 3 lines 2-4 recite “the rotation prevention claw includes a first claw portion and a second claw portion, and the first claw portion and the second claw portion are disposed away from each other in a direction orthogonal to a width direction”. As noted with the drawing objections above, it is difficult to discern where the first and second claw portions are. It appears from figure 4 that the limitation may be describing the claw having a vertical height, i.e. the first part is a lower edge or portion and the second part is an upper edge or portion.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claim(s) 1-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over JP H07-18294 to Tsuji (from IDS of 2/3/2025, hereinafter Tsuji) in view of US patent 11788336 to Kashiwagi (hereinafter Kashi).
Regarding claim 1, the carrier plate is shown in Tsuji in figures 1-8 with
a carrier plate (A) that is slidably guided on or along a guide rail (2) by transmission of a driving force of a driving section by a cable, the guide rail including: a base portion (horizontal portion figure 4); an erected portion (right vertical portion figure 4) that is erected from the base portion and is connected to the base portion at one end of the erected portion; and a flange portion (horizontal foot at end of vertical portion figure 4) that is connected to another end of the erected portion, the carrier plate (A) comprising:
a base body (1);
a fitting portion (16) that fits with the guide rail (2);
a rotation prevention claw (4) that is provided on one side (left side figure 4) of the fitting portion (16) in a width direction of the base portion, and prevents rotation of the carrier plate (A) around the fitting portion (16) with respect to the guide rail (2);
an accommodation portion (for wire from translated abstract) that accommodates an end portion of the cable; and
an elastic claw (3, claw from shape formed via 4 and 3, elastic from give in member 13 and also combination noted below) that includes a leading-end portion (top left corner shown on 3’ in figure 4) located, in a case where the base body is viewed (view of figure 4) along a sliding direction (vertical direction figure 3) of the carrier plate, in a position overlapping with the rotation prevention claw (4) in a direction orthogonal to the sliding direction and the width direction, the leading-end portion being in contact with the guide rail (2) to cause the leading-end portion and the rotation prevention claw to hold the guide rail (2) therebetween.
However, Tsuji does not show the flange portion of the rail engaged between the claws nor the accommodation portion on the other side of the fitting from the claws.
The accommodation portion location and rail flange are shown in Kashi in figures 1-5C where carrier plate (3) has an accommodating portion (33,34) on one side of a fitting portion (32), opposite the side where the other retaining feature (similar to claws of Tsuji, shown in figure 4B as J-shaped member engaging 24) is located, and the guide rail (2) has flanges (24 and 25) on both sides (i.e. one engaging fitting portion 32 and the other engaging the J-shaped claw). When provided with the dual flange of Kashi the elastic claw would have some form of elasticity in order to allow for insertion of the flange (as opposed to the flat plate).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the carrier plate of Tsuji with the accommodation portion location and rail flange of Kashi because the accommodation portion location outside the rail (i.e. opposite fitting and retaining members) allows for easy mounting the cable ends and for use of a raising and lowering cable arrangement (cables 4 and 5 in Kashi) and the rail flange on both sides allows for improved rail and carrier plate engagement.
Regarding claim 2, the carrier plate (A) includes a region (region having claws 3 and 4) in which the rotation prevention claw (4) and elastic claw (3) overlap with each other when viewed (view of figure 4) in the sliding direction (sliding direction is orthogonal to thickness and width as noted in above claim objection) in Tsuji.
Regarding claim 3, the rotation prevention claw (4) includes a first claw portion (annotated figure 1 below) and a second claw portion (annotated figure 1) disposed away from each other in a direction orthogonal to the width direction and a thickness direction and the leading edge portion of the elastic claw (4) is disposed in a region between the first and second claw portions in Tsuji.
PNG
media_image1.png
476
424
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 4, Tsuji is silent as to whether the gap between rotation prevention claw (4) and elastic claw (3) is smaller than the diameter of the cable. Although Tsuji does not disclose specific size, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to size to be useful- i.e. too small a gap would constrict sliding movement of the rail and too large a gap would allow too much rotational movement and thereby potential jamming of the carrier plate. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill to select or at least try the gap size claimed as there are a finite number of sizes such a gap can usefully be made in.
Regarding claim 5, the elastic claw (3) extends in the width direction (left-right in figure 4) in Tsuji.
Regarding claim 6, the elastic claw extends in the sliding direction (sliding direction is orthogonal to thickness and width as noted in above claim objection) in Tsuji.
Regarding claim 7, Tsuji is silent as to whether the gap between rotation prevention claw (4) and elastic claw (3) is such that the cable does not intrude into the gap from a thickness direction (i.e. is smaller than the diameter of the cable). Although Tsuji does not disclose specific size, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to size to be useful- i.e. too small a gap would constrict sliding movement of the rail and too large a gap would allow too much rotational movement and thereby potential jamming of the carrier plate. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill to select or at least try the gap size claimed as there are a finite number of sizes such a gap can usefully be made in.
Regarding claim 8, a gap is provided between the elastic claw (3) and the rotation prevention claw (4) in Tsuji, however, the gap does not have a curved shape. A curved shape would be an obvious design choice. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the carrier plate of Tsuji, having the accommodation portion location and rail flange of Kashi, with a curved gape shape because the curved shape provided the allows for easier installation of carrier plate to rail, especially when provided with the rail having dual flanges as in Kashi
Regarding claim 9, the window regulator is shown in Tsuji in figures 1-8 with
a carrier plate;
a guide rail (2) that guides the carrier plate (A) and includes:
a base portion (horizontal portion figure 4);
an erected portion (right vertical portion figure 4) that is erected from the base portion and is connected to the base portion at one end of the erected portion; and
a flange portion (horizontal foot at end of vertical portion figure 4) that is connected to another end of the erected portion;
a cable (translated abstract) that transmits a driving force (force from regulator drive) of a driving section (not shown, section wherever drive is mounted) to the carrier plate (A);
the carrier plate (A) includes:
a base body (1);
a fitting portion (16) that fits with the guide rail (2);
a rotation prevention claw (4) that is provided on one side (left side figure 4) of the fitting portion (16) in a width direction of the base portion, and prevents rotation of the carrier plate (A) around the fitting portion (16) with respect to the guide rail (2);
an accommodation portion (for wire from translated abstract) that accommodates an end portion of the cable; and
an elastic claw (3, claw from shape formed via 4 and 3, elastic from give in member 13 and also combination noted below) that includes a leading-end portion (top left corner shown on 3’ in figure 4) located, in a case where the base body is viewed (view of figure 4) along a sliding direction (vertical direction figure 3) of the carrier plate, in a position overlapping with the rotation prevention claw (4) in a direction orthogonal to the sliding direction and the width direction, the leading-end portion being in contact with the guide rail (2) to cause the leading-end portion and the rotation prevention claw to hold the guide rail (2) therebetween, wherein:
the rotation prevention claw (4) extends from a side of a first surface (lower surface figure 4) of the guide rail (2) to a side of a second surface (upper surface figure 4) of the guide rail, and is locked (via 6) to the second surface, the side of the second surface being opposite to the first surface, and the elastic claw (3) is in contact (via 13) with the first surface.
While examiner maintains that the direction-changing member at an end portion of the rail is inherent in Tsuji (i.e. without a pulley the cable cannot loop to drive the carrier plate), if applicant disagrees a direction-changing member is shown in Kashi in figure 1with direction-changing member (7) at an upper end of the rail (2). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the carrier plate of Tsuji with the direction-changing member of Kashi because direction changing members or pulleys were known in the window regular art to allow for the cable to loop and thus drive the window up and down.
However, Tsuji does not show the flange portion of the rail engaged between the claws nor the accommodation portion on the other side of the fitting from the claws.
The accommodation portion location and rail flange are shown in Kashi in figures 1-5C where carrier plate (3) has an accommodating portion (33,34) on one side of a fitting portion (32), opposite the side where the other retaining feature (similar to claws of Tsuji, shown in figure 4B as J-shaped member engaging 24) is located, and the guide rail (2) has flanges (24 and 25) on both sides (i.e. one engaging fitting portion 32 and the other engaging the J-shaped claw). When provided with the dual flange of Kashi the elastic claw would have some for of elasticity in order to allow for insertion of the flange (as opposed to the flat plate).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the carrier plate of Tsuji with the accommodation portion location and rail flange of Kashi because the accommodation portion location outside the rail (i.e. opposite fitting and retaining members) allows for easy mounting the cable ends and for use of a raising and lowering cable arrangement (cables 4 and 5 in Kashi) and the rail flange on both sides allows for improved rail and carrier plate engagement.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CATHERINE A KELLY whose telephone number is (571)270-3660. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:30am-5:30pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Anita Coupe can be reached at 571-270-3614. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/CATHERINE A KELLY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3619
Prosecution Insights