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 .
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.
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)(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) 16 and 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Harmon (US 2024/0208386).
Regarding Claim 16, Harmon discloses positioning a base unit 32 on a floor pan of a vehicle, the base unit including a transmitting bracket 42A, 42B; securing the base unit 32 to the floor pan (paragraph 0085); positioning a storage unit 70A, 70B on the base unit (Fig. 3), the storage unit including a receiving bracket 79 (Fig. 4A) contacting the transmitting bracket; securing the storage unit to the base unit; and mounting an electrical connection assembly 370, 372 (Fig. 14C) to the storage unit , the electrical connection assembly including a port cover 350 and a port unit received within the port cover (port unit is the outlets combination, and the cover is the arm rest cover that covers the entire storage opening), the port unit electrically coupled to the transmitting bracket by the receiving bracket.
Regarding Claim 18, Harmon discloses inserting one or more feet 63 of the storage unit 70A into one or more respective receiving openings 46A formed in a base housing of the base unit on which the storage unit is positioned (Fig. 5).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-15 are allowed.
Claims 17, 19 and 20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including 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:
Regarding Claims 1-9, applicant’s use of a base unit/storage unit combination for a console of a vehicle, wherein the storage unit includes a removable electrical connection assembly including a port cover and a port unit received within the port cover, the port unit electrically coupled to a transmitting bracket by a receiving bracket, is novel.
Regarding Claims 10-15, applicant’s use of a base unit/storage unit combination for a console of a vehicle, wherein the storage unit includes a rear end assembly including a port unit received within the rear end assembly, and a wire extending from a receiving bracket with a first connector terminal connected to the port unit and a second connector terminal extending through the rear end assembly, is novel.
Regarding Claim 17, applicant’s use of a fastener that extends through both the transmitting bracket and the receiving bracket to fasten the base unit down, is novel.
Regarding Claim 19, applicant’s use of a base housing with a rear recessed portion; the transmitting bracket with an upper bracket portion extending into the rear recessed portion; and the receiving bracket extending into the rear recessed portion of the base unit to contact the upper bracket portion of the transmitting bracket, is novel.
Regarding Claim 20, applicant’s use of a wire fixed to the receiving bracket, a connector terminal provided at an opposite second end of the wire connected to the port unit, is novel.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The cited prior art relates to consoles for vehicles, their construction and electrical connectivity.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JASON S DANIELS whose telephone number is (571)270-1167. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 7:00 am - 5:00 pm.
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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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/JASON S DANIELS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3612
