ROCKER COMPONENT WITH TAPERED SHAPE

§102 §103

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 Applicant is advised that should claim 7 be found allowable, claim 8 will be objected to under 37 CFR 1.75 as being a substantial duplicate thereof. When two claims in an application are duplicates or else are so close in content that they both cover the same thing, despite a slight difference in wording, it is proper after allowing one claim to object to the other as being a substantial duplicate of the allowed claim. See MPEP § 608.01(m). 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. Claims 1-10 and 12-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CN 211336198. CN 21136198 discloses a rocker component for a vehicle comprising a sill inner (42) and a sill outer (41) attached along the sill inner (42) to define an elongated space therebetween, as shown in Figures 1-7. A rocker insert (44) comprising a tubular beam (44) disposed along the elongated space and having a transverse cross-sectional shape extending continuously along a length of the tubular beam, as shown in Figures 4-7. The tubular beam (44) comprises an upper planar wall and a lower planar wall that are vertically separated, respectively, from top and bottom interior surfaces of the elongate space formed by the sill inner and the sill outer, as shown in Figures 4-7. PNG media_image1.png 314 438 media_image1.png Greyscale The tubular beam (44) comprises an intermediate wall (441-443) extending between the upper planar wall and the lower planar wall to divide a hollow interior of the tubular beam (44) into separate hollow tubular interiors along the length of the tubular beam (44), as shown in Figure 7. The upper planar wall angles toward the lower planar wall laterally from an inboard portion to an outboard portion of the tubular beam (44) to form a tapered shape, as shown in Figures 4-7. In reference to claims 2 and 13, the inboard portion of the tubular beam (44) has an inboard height dimension, as shown in Figures 4-7. The outboard portion has an outboard height dimension that is less than the inboard height dimension, as shown in Figures 4-7. In reference to claim 3, the inboard portion comprises an inner wall facing the sill inner (42), as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The inner wall integrally connects between the upper planar wall and the lower planar wall, as shown in Figures 4-7. In reference to claim 4, the inner wall, the upper planar wall, the lower planar wall, and the intermediate wall together surround at least one of the separate hollow tubular interiors that extends along the length of the tubular beam (44), as shown in Figures 4-7. In reference to claim 5, the inner wall comprises a planar section that is disposed at a transition angle of 45 to 90 degrees relative to the upper and lower planar walls, as shown in Figures 4-7. In reference to claim 6, the inner wall of the tubular beam (44) is attached to a side interior surface of the sill inner (42) to support the tubular beam (44) in the hollow interior, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In reference to claim 7, a mounting bracket (45) secures the tubular beam (44) in the hollow space between the sill inner (42) and the sill outer (41), as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In reference to claim 8, a mounting bracket (45) secures the tubular beam (44) in the hollow space between the sill inner (42) and the sill outer (41), as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In reference to claim 9, the tubular beam (44) comprises an extrusion, as disclosed in the translation. The translation states: In the specific application, the side reinforcing beam 44 can be made by extruding and processing aluminium material, also can be fixedly connected by riveting and other ways. In reference to claim 10, the outboard portion comprises an outer wall facing the sill outer (41), as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The outer wall integrally connects between the upper planar wall and the lower planar wall, as shown in Figures 4-7. In reference to claim 12, a rocker insert (44) comprises a tubular beam (44) having an upper planar wall and a lower planar wall extending continuously along a length of the tubular beam (44) and defining a hollow interior therebetween, as shown in Figures 4-7. A mounting bracket (45) is attached to the lower planar wall and configured to secure the tubular beam (44) in an elongated hollow space of a rocker panel (4) that is vertically separated from interior surfaces of the rocker panel, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. PNG media_image1.png 314 438 media_image1.png Greyscale The tubular beam (44) comprises an intermediate wall (441-443) extending between the upper planar wall and the lower planar wall to divide a hollow interior of the tubular beam (44) into separate hollow tubular interiors along the length of the tubular beam (44), as shown in Figure 7. The upper planar wall angles toward the lower planar wall laterally from an inboard portion to an outboard portion of the tubular beam (44) to form a tapered shape, as shown in Figures 4-7. In reference to claim 14, the inboard portion of the tubular beam (44) comprises an inner wall integrally connected between the upper planar wall and the lower planar wall, as shown in Figures 4-7. In reference to claim 15, the inner wall, the upper planar wall, the lower planar wall, and the intermediate wall together surround at least one of the separate hollow tubular interiors that extends along the length of the tubular beam, as shown in Figures 4-7. In reference to claim 16, the outboard portion of the tubular beam (44) comprises an outer wall connected between the upper planar wall and the lower planar wall, as shown in Figures 4-7. In reference to claim 17, the inner and outer walls and the upper and lower planar walls together surround the separate hollow tubular interiors that extends along the length of the tubular beam (44), as shown in Figures 4-7. PNG media_image2.png 308 520 media_image2.png Greyscale In reference to claim 18, the inner and outer walls are disposed at a transition angle of 45 to 90 degrees relative to the planar sections of the upper and lower walls, as shown in Figures 4-7. In reference to claim 19, the tubular beam comprises an extrusion, as shown in Figures 4-7. The translation states: In the specific application, the side reinforcing beam 44 can be made by extruding and processing aluminium material, also can be fixedly connected by riveting and other ways. In reference to claim 20, a rocker component for a vehicle comprises a sill inner (42) and a sill outer (41) coupled along the sill inner to surround an elongated space therebetween, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. A tubular beam (44) is disposed along the elongated space and has a transverse cross sectional shape extending continuously along a length of the tubular beam (44), as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The tubular beam (44) comprises an upper planar wall and a lower planar wall that are separated from the interior surfaces of the sill inner (42) and the sill outer (41), as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The upper and lower planar walls extend laterally across the elongated space with the upper planar angled toward the lower planar wall to form a tapered shape, as shown in Figures 4-7. The tubular beam (44) comprises an intermediate wall (441-443) integrally extending between the upper planar wall and the lower planar wall that divides a hollow interior of the tubular beam along the length of the tubular beam (44), as shown in Figures 4-7. 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. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CN 211336198 in view of Halonen et al. (US 2022/0135136). CN 211336198 does not disclose the specifics of the tubular beam. Halonen et al. teaches forming a tubular beam (240) from a metal sheet formed to have a pair of adjacent tubular members that have hollow openings that are divided by a common center wall of the tubular beam, as shown in Figure 7. This is an alternative to tubular beam formed by extrusion, as shown in Figures 2-5. PNG media_image3.png 318 582 media_image3.png Greyscale It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to form the tubular beam of CN 211336198 from a metal sheet formed to have a pair of adjacent tubular members that have hollow openings that are divided by a common center wall of the tubular beam, as taught by Halonen et al., with a reasonable expectation for success to reduce weight. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Lee et al. (US 2020/0114972) discloses a mounting bracket attached to an upper planar wall to secure the tubular beam in a rocker panel, as shown in Figure 3. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GREGORY A BLANKENSHIP whose telephone number is (571)272-6656. The examiner can normally be reached 7-4:30. 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, 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. 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. GREGORY A. BLANKENSHIP Primary Examiner Art Unit 3612 /GREGORY A BLANKENSHIP/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3612 October 1, 2026