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 .
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent Application No. JP 2024084142, filed on 05/23/2024.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner.
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 1-3 and 5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Baumann et al. (hereinafter “Baumann”) (DE 102017207934 A1)
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Regarding claim 1, Baumann discloses: A method (figs. 2A-2F) of manufacturing a formed product (K)(fig. 2F) by pressing a blank (K’)(fig. 2A) with a first press mold (O) and a second press mold, (U) the method comprising:
arranging the blank between the first press mold and the second press mold spaced apart from each other; (fig. 2A) and
forming a top plate portion, (TP)(modified fig. 2D above) a vertical wall portion, (Ka)(fig. 2F) and a flange portion (F)(modified fig. 2D above) while forming a fold (area on blank between 12B and 32)(fig. 2D) on an extension portion (E)(modified fig. 2A above) by bringing the first press mold and the second press mold close to each other (figs. 2A-2D) in a state where the blank is arranged between the first press mold and the second press mold to thereby press the blank by the first press mold and the second press mold, (figs. 2A-2D)
the blank including a top plate (T)(modified fig. 2A above) corresponding portion that corresponds to the top plate portion of the formed product, a vertical wall (VW) corresponding portion that corresponds to the vertical wall portion of the formed product, and the extension portion, (E)
the extension portion being an area extending to an outer side from an outer-side edge of the vertical wall corresponding portion, the outer side being a downstream side in a direction from the vertical wall corresponding portion to a side opposite where the top plate corresponding portion is located, in a plane parallel to the blank, (modified figs. 2A and 2D above)
the flange portion being a portion that is formed of the extension portion and that extends from an outer-side edge of the vertical wall portion in a direction intersecting with the vertical wall portion, the flange portion having a shape curved to form a stretch flange, (modified figs. 2A and 2D above) and
the fold extending along a longitudinal direction of an outer-side edge of the flange portion. (modified fig. 2D above)
Regarding claim 2, Baumann discloses: The method of manufacturing a formed product according to claim 1, further comprising:
removing a portion of the extension portion that is on the outer side relative to the fold after forming the flange portion. (figs. 2D-2F)
Regarding claim 3, Baumann discloses: The method of manufacturing a formed product according to claim 1, wherein the top plate portion includes a recessed portion (M)(fig. 15B) recessed in a thickness direction of the top plate portion. (fig. 15B)[para. 0042]
Regarding claim 5, Baumann discloses: The method of manufacturing a formed product according to claim 1,
wherein the formed product is an automobile component. [para. 0042]
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Baumann as applied to claims 1-3 above, and further in view of Tanaka et al. (hereinafter “Tanaka”) (US 20160375477 A1)
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Regarding claim 4, Baumann discloses: The method of manufacturing a formed product according to claim 3, wherein the top plate portion includes a recessed portion (M)(fig. 15B) recessed in a thickness direction of the top plate portion.
Baumann fails to disclose: wherein the recessed portion is formed in advance in the blank before arranging the blank between the first press mold and the second press mold spaced apart from each other.
Tanaka teaches: A similar method of manufacturing a formed product (figs. 18A-18D)
wherein the top plate portion (TP)(modified fig. 18C above) includes a recessed portion (74)(fig. 18B) recessed in a thickness direction of the top plate portion, (fig. 18B)
wherein the recessed portion is formed in advance in the blank (fig. 18B) before arranging the blank between the first press mold (503, fig. 11C)[para. 0158] and the second press mold (504, fig. 11C)[para. 0158] spaced apart from each other.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date
of the claimed invention to add the step of forming the recessed portion in advance before arranging the blank between the first press mold and the second press mold as taught by Tanaka to the method of Baumann in order to pre-process a blank. [para. 0157 of Tanaka]
After modification, Baumann in view of Tanaka teaches:
The method of manufacturing a formed product according to claim 3,
wherein the recessed portion is formed in advance in the blank before arranging the blank between the first press mold and the second press mold spaced apart from each other.
Pertinent Prior Art
The following art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure:
US 20200078849 A1 teaches a method of manufacturing a formed product with a recessed portion and a fold on a flange.
US 20130316132 A1 teaches a method of manufacturing a formed product with a hat shape.
US 20200384522 A1 teaches a method of manufacturing a formed product and removing a piece of a flange.
DE 102016125671 A1 teaches a method of manufacturing a formed product and removing a piece of a flange.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JUEVARA SAOOD ISSA whose telephone number is (571)482-9980. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 9:00am-5pm and every other Friday 9:00am-5pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christopher Templeton can be reached at (571) 270-1477. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/J.S.I./Examiner, Art Unit 3725
/Christopher L Templeton/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3725
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