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 § 112
Claims 3-5 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 regard to claim 3, the phrase “… having higher rigidity than rigidity of another area” (line 4) is unclear since it is uncertain as to what area the “another area” defines.
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 and 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Link (US 1083330).
The Link reference discloses vehicle front end structure comprising a pair of framework portions 1, a bumper reinforcement (4,5) and a heat exchanger 6 provided between the framework portions in an overlapping fashion via bracket (2,9), as claimed.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The Mildner and Riviere et al. references pertain to various vehicle front strctures with framework and heat exchanger arrangements with similarities to that of Applicant’s.
Claims 3-5 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: none of the prior art of record, with the applied Link reference being the closest prior art device, alone or in combination, teach Applicant’s invention of a vehicle front structure inclusive of details regarding framework portions with an area between the heat exchanger and an end of a bumper reinforcement in a vehicle width direction in a state that an end is bent with a high rigidity portion, as claimed. To modify the closest prior art device to have such features would involve teachings gleaned only from the instant Application for patent.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STEVEN O DOUGLAS whose telephone number is (571)272-4885. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 5:30-4:00 EST.
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/STEVEN O DOUGLAS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3612
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