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
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
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 6-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Malecke et al. (U.S. 2019/0289728).
Regarding claim 1, Malecke et al. teaches a housing 100, shown in figure 1, comprising a base component 104 made of a non-deformable material (paragraph [0043]), and a lid component 102, wherein the base component 104 comprises one or more fastening openings 110, wherein the lid component 102 comprises one or more latching elements 106, the one or more latching elements 106 being engageable in respective ones of the one or more fastening openings 110 (figure 6) in order to securely close the base component 104 with the lid component 102 (figure 5), and wherein the latching elements 106 have tabs (radially outwardly extending protrusion of 106; figure 6) that point away from the housing once closed (figure 6).
Regarding claim 2, the lid component 102 comprises a material made of hygroscopic polymers (paragraph [0042]), and the base component comprises at least one of the following materials: cast aluminum, cast iron or a milled material (aluminum; figure [0043]).
Regarding claim 3, the tabs of 106 of the latching elements 106 are monolithically formed as a wedge (figure 6).
Regarding claim 6, a sealing element 120 made of an elastic material (paragraph [0039]) to provide a sealed closure of the base component 104 by the lid component 102, wherein the latching elements engage in the fastening openings only when the sealing element is deformed (figure 6).
Regarding claim 7, Malecke et al. a vehicle component (paragraph [0003]), comprising a housing 100 according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle component comprises at least one of an electro-pneumatic modulator, an electronic component, a control unit, an electronic power steering system, an electronic clutch actuator, a trailer control module, a foot brake module, or a pressure control valve (“electronic control module”; paragraph [0001]).
Regarding claim 8, a commercial vehicle comprising a vehicle component according to claim 7 (paragraphs [0001], [0003]).
Regarding claim 9, Malecke et al. teaches a method for producing a housing 100, the method comprising the steps of forming a base component 102 with fastening openings 110 from a non-deformable material (paragraph [0043]), forming a lid component 102 to close the base component in a scaling manner (figure 5), wherein the lid component 102 comprises latching elements 106 with tabs that point away from the housing once closed (figure 6).
Claims 1, 3-6 and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Brown et al. (U.S. 5,348,549).
Regarding claim 1, Brown et al. teaches a housing, shown in figure 1, comprising a base component 12 made of a non-deformable material (col. 5 lines 37-42), and a lid component 14, wherein the base component 12 comprises one or more fastening openings 36, wherein the lid component 14 comprises one or more latching elements 76, the one or more latching elements 76 being engageable in respective ones of the one or more fastening openings 36 (figure 4) in order to securely close the base component 12 with the lid component 14, and wherein the latching elements 76 have tabs 90 that point away from the housing once closed (figure 4).
Regarding claim 3, the tabs 90 of the latching elements 76 are monolithically formed as a wedge (figure 3).
Regarding claim 4, a rear surface at 80 of a respective tab terminates flush with an outer wall of the base component 12 (figure 3), and the tab 90 is supported by the outer surface of the base component when engaged in the fastening opening (figure 4).
Regarding claim 5, the base component 12 comprises one or more wedge-shaped projections 44 on an outer wall of the base component (figure 6) behind the fastening openings in a latching direction (col. 5 lines 1-7), and the wedge-shaped projections push the tabs away from the outer wall of the base component (figures 6 and 7).
Regarding claim 6, a sealing element 200 made of an elastic material (“thermoplastic rubber material”; col. 6 lines 34-40) to provide a sealed closure of the base component 12 by the lid component 14, wherein the latching elements engage in the fastening openings only when the sealing element is deformed (figures 6-9).
Regarding claim 9, Brown et al. teaches a method for producing a housing, the method comprising the steps of forming a base component 12 with fastening openings 36 from a non-deformable material (col. 5 lines 37-42), forming a lid component 14 to close the base component in a scaling manner (figure 7), wherein the lid component 14 comprises latching elements 76 with tabs 90 that point away from the housing once closed (figure 7).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The prior art is cited for the latching mechanism between the base and lid.
THIS ACTION IS NON-FINAL.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NIKI MARINA ELOSHWAY whose telephone number is (571)272-4538. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday 7: 00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Orlando E. Avilés can be reached at 571-270-5531. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/NIKI M ELOSHWAY/Examiner, Art Unit 3736
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