Patent Application 18840654 - SAFETY BELT SLIDING ASSEMBLY AND VEHICLE - Rejection

Patent Application 18840654 - SAFETY BELT SLIDING ASSEMBLY AND VEHICLE

Title: SAFETY BELT SLIDING ASSEMBLY AND VEHICLE

Application Information

• Invention Title: SAFETY BELT SLIDING ASSEMBLY AND VEHICLE
• Application Number: 18840654
• Submission Date: 2025-05-15T00:00:00.000Z
• Effective Filing Date: 2024-08-22T00:00:00.000Z
• Filing Date: 2024-08-22T00:00:00.000Z
• Examiner Employee Number: 95791
• Art Unit: 3614
• Tech Center: 3600

Rejection Summary

• 102 Rejections: 0
• 103 Rejections: 2

Cited Patents

The following patents were cited in the rejection:

• US 0079129🔗
• US 0373648🔗

Office Action Text

    DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on 08/22/2024, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
The following is a Non-Final Office Action on the merits in response to applicant’s filing from 08/22/2024.
Claims 1, and 3-21 are pending and have been considered below.

Priority
The application claims foreign priority to CN 2022/0373648, filed on 02/23/2022, and is a 371 of PCT/CN2023/074812, filed on 02/07/2023. The priority is acknowledged. 

Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 08/22/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement has been considered by the examiner.

Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the “first guide rail” (claims 1, and 9-12) must be shown or the features. canceled from the claims. No new matter should be entered. 
For purposes of examination, the first guide rail will be considered a continuous extension of second guide rail 13; the first guide rail corresponding to the portion marked by reference numbers 21 and 22 in Fig. 10.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.

Claim Objections
Claim 7 is objected to because of the following informalities: “is formed between adjacent two deforming grooves, the plurality of reinforcing ribs” should read, “is formed between two adjacent deforming grooves of the plurality of deforming grooves, a plurality of reinforcing ribs”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 7 is objected to because of the following informalities: “each reinforcing rib” should read, “each reinforcing rib of the plurality of reinforcing ribs”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 16 is objected to because of the following informalities: “is arranged between adjacent two flexible layers” should read, “is arranged between two adjacent flexible layers of the plurality of flexible layers”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 21 is objected to because of the following informalities: “each reinforcing rib” should read, “each reinforcing rib of the plurality of reinforcing ribs”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 21 is objected to because of the following informalities: “is formed between adjacent two deforming grooves” should read, “is formed between two adjacent deforming grooves of the plurality of deforming grooves”. Appropriate correction is required.

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.

Claims 1, 4-13, and 18-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kobayakawa (JP H0653329), as cited by Applicant, in view of Wang (CN 212325707).
Regarding claim 1, Kobayakawa discloses a safety belt sliding assembly {“adjuster mechanism with anchor apparatus of seat belts” [0001]}, comprising: an upper decorative plate {1’} having a first surface {inside surface of 1’ (Fig. 1)}, wherein the first surface {inside surface of 1’ (Fig. 1)} is provided with a first guide rail {portion of 1’ underneath 4 (Fig. 1)} and a second guide rail {4} connected to each other {integrally (Fig. 1)}, and the second guide rail {4} is inclined in a direction running away from the first guide rail {portion of 1’ underneath 4} and in a direction facing away from the first surface {inside surface of 1’ (Fig. 1)}; and a sliding plate {2’} comprising a fixed section {portion of 2’ underneath 21 (Figs. 2-3), this portion is fixed via 15 inserted into hole 7, and via 46 inserted into hole 8} and a flexible section {21} connected to each other {integrally (Figs. 2-3)}, wherein the fixed section {bottom portion of 2’} and the flexible section {21} are slidably fitted with the first guide rail {portion of 1’ underneath 4 (Figs. 1-3)}, respectively, and the flexible section {21} is configured to slide to the second guide rail {4 (Figs. 2-3)} and generate deformation {via bending 21 at an inclined angle (Figs. 2-3)}. 
However, Kobayakawa does not explicitly disclose the flexible section comprises a reinforcing skeleton and a flexible layer connected to each other.
Wang teaches {Figs. 6-7} a flexible section {31} comprises a reinforcing skeleton {315} and a flexible layer {311: “the rolling shutter type box cover 31 is integrally formed and can be elastically bent and deformed, and the rolling shutter type box cover 31 includes an integrally formed sheet-type substrate 311 that can be elastically bent and deformed. The sheet-type substrate 311 is, for example, nylon, Made of PP, PE and other materials with good elasticity” [0032]} connected to each other {“the sheet-type substrate 311 is evenly distributed on the side of the storage cavity 30 toward the inner side of a number of stiffeners extending along the width direction of the shutter-type box cover to improve the strength of the box cover, wherein the stiffeners are reinforced convex plates 315” [0032]}.
In light of these teachings, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the safety belt sliding assembly, as disclosed by Kobayakawa, such that the flexible section comprises a reinforcing skeleton and a flexible layer connected to each other, as taught by Wang, in order to “improve the strength…and the compression resistance” [0032] of the flexible section.
Regarding claim 4, Kobayakawa and Wang disclose all the aspects of claim 1. Kobayakawa and Wang further disclose the reinforcing skeleton {Wang: 315} is bonded with the flexible layer {Wang: 311; Par. 32 explains that “the box cover 31 is integrally formed” and Par. 32 explains that 31 comprises flexible layer 311 and reinforcing skeleton 315: “the rolling shutter type box cover 31 is integrally formed and can be elastically bent and deformed, and the rolling shutter type box cover 31 includes an integrally formed sheet-type substrate 311 that can be elastically bent and deformed. The sheet-type substrate 311 is, for example, nylon, Made of PP, PE and other materials with good elasticity. The thin-shaped substrate 311 is evenly distributed on the outer surface of the sheet-type substrate 311 facing away from the storage cavity with thickness-reducing grooves 313 penetrating transversely along the roller blind box cover. The roller blind box cover is bent and deformed during the sliding process. Of course, the roller blind box cover can also be formed by connecting multiple traditional roller blind pieces in series via a connection structure, but in this specific embodiment, the processing is convenient and the cost is low. And the sheet-type substrate 311 is evenly distributed on the side of the storage cavity 30 toward the inner side of a number of stiffeners extending along the width direction of the shutter-type box cover to improve the strength of the box cover, wherein the stiffeners are reinforced convex plates 315 , The shape-reinforced convex plate 315 can well improve the strength of the box cover and the compression resistance, and the shape-reinforced convex plate 315 encloses the cavity” [0032]; thus flexible layer 311 and reinforcing skeleton 315 are integrally formed (bonded)}.
Regarding claim 5, Kobayakawa and Wang disclose all the aspects of claim 1. Kobayakawa and Wang further disclose the reinforcing skeleton {Wang: 315} comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs {Wang: 315 (Figs. 6-7)} arranged at intervals along a sliding direction of the sliding plate {Wang: 31 (Figs. 6-7)}.
Regarding claim 6, Kobayakawa and Wang disclose all the aspects of claim 1. Kobayakawa further discloses the flexible section {21} has a first side surface {right side surface of 21 (Figs. 2-3)}, the first side surface {right side surface of 21 (Figs. 2-3)} faces away from the first surface {inside surface of 1’ (Fig. 1)}, and the first side surface {right side surface of 21 (Figs. 2-3)} is provided with a deforming groove {6 (Figs. 1-3)}.
Regarding claim 7, Kobayakawa and Wang disclose all the aspects of claim 6. Kobayakawa further discloses the first side surface {right side surface of 21 (Figs. 2-3)} is provided with a plurality of deforming grooves {6 (Figs. 1-3)}, the plurality of deforming grooves {6} are distributed at intervals along the sliding direction of the sliding plate {2’}, a convex portion {portion in between grooves 6 (Fig. 1)} is formed between adjacent two deforming grooves {6 (Fig. 1)}, a plurality of reinforcing ribs {portions in between grooves 6 (Fig. 1)} of the flexible section {21} are arranged corresponding to the convex portion {portion in between grooves 6 (Fig. 1)}, and each reinforcing rib {portion in between grooves 6 (Fig. 1)} corresponds to one convex portion {portion in between grooves 6 (Fig. 1)}.
Regarding claim 8, Kobayakawa and Wang disclose all the aspects of claim 1. However, Kobayakawa does not explicitly disclose the second guide rail is an arc-shaped guide rail.
Wang teaches {Figs. 6-9} a guide rail {30211} for a flexible sliding member {31} is an arc-shaped guide rail {30211 (Fig. 8)}.
In light of these teachings, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the safety belt sliding assembly, as disclosed by Kobayakawa, such that the second guide rail is an arc-shaped guide rail, as taught by Wang, so that the second guide rail “forms a groove-shaped track, and has the advantages of compact structure, convenient and reliable assembly” {Wang [0036]}, while also providing further contact with the flexible portion {Kobayakawa: 21, see how 21 gradually loses contact with the second guide rail 4 from left to right (Figs. 2-3), if second guide rail 4 had a more arc-shaped track, it could provide continuous contact with the flexible structure, as taught by Wang (Figs. 6-8), thus making the assembly more compact, convenient, and reliable}.
Regarding claim 9, Kobayakawa and Wang disclose all the aspects of claim 1. Kobayakawa further discloses the upper decorative plate {1’} has a second surface {back outside surface of 1’ (Fig. 1)} facing away from the first surface {inside surface of 1’ (Fig. 1)}; and the safety belt sliding assembly further comprises a lower decorative plate {18} arranged on the second surface {back outside surface of 1’ (Fig. 1)}, the upper decorative plate {1’} has an overlapping area {portion of 1’ above the bottom of 4 (Figs. 2-3)} overlapping with the lower decorative plate {18 (Figs. 2-3)}, the first guide rail {portion of 1’ underneath 4} is arranged outside the overlapping area {portion of 1’ above the bottom of 4 (Figs. 2-3)}, and the second guide rail {4} is arranged in the overlapping area {portion of 1’ above the bottom of 4 (Figs. 2-3)}.
Regarding claim 10, Kobayakawa discloses a vehicle {“passenger car” [0001]}, comprising a safety belt sliding assembly {“adjuster mechanism with anchor apparatus of seat belts” [0001]}, wherein the safety belt sliding assembly comprises: an upper decorative plate {1’} having a first surface {inside surface of 1’ (Fig. 1)}, wherein the first surface {inside surface of 1’ (Fig. 1)} is provided with a first guide rail {portion of 1’ underneath 4 (Fig. 1)} and a second guide rail {4} connected to each other, and the second guide rail {4} is inclined in a direction running away from the first guide rail {portion of 1’ underneath 4 (Fig. 1)} and in a direction facing away from the first surface {inside surface of 1’ (Fig. 1)}; and a sliding plate {2’} comprising a fixed section {portion of 2’ underneath 21 (Figs. 2-3), this portion is fixed via 15 inserted into hole 7, and via 46 inserted into hole 8} and a flexible section {21} connected to each other, wherein the fixed section {portion of 2’ underneath 21 (Figs. 2-3)} and the flexible section {21} are slidably fitted with the first guide rail {portion of 1’ underneath 4 (Fig. 1)}, respectively, and the flexible section {21} is configured to slide to the second guide rail {4} and generate deformation {via bending 21 at an inclined angle (Figs. 2-3)}
However, Kobayakawa does not explicitly disclose the flexible section comprises a reinforcing skeleton and a flexible layer connected to each other.
Wang teaches {Figs. 6-7} a flexible section {31} comprises a reinforcing skeleton {315} and a flexible layer {311: “the rolling shutter type box cover 31 is integrally formed and can be elastically bent and deformed, and the rolling shutter type box cover 31 includes an integrally formed sheet-type substrate 311 that can be elastically bent and deformed. The sheet-type substrate 311 is, for example, nylon, Made of PP, PE and other materials with good elasticity” [0032]} connected to each other {“the sheet-type substrate 311 is evenly distributed on the side of the storage cavity 30 toward the inner side of a number of stiffeners extending along the width direction of the shutter-type box cover to improve the strength of the box cover, wherein the stiffeners are reinforced convex plates 315” [0032]}.
In light of these teachings, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the safety belt sliding assembly, as disclosed by Kobayakawa, such that the flexible section comprises a reinforcing skeleton and a flexible layer connected to each other, as taught by Wang, in order to “improve the strength…and the compression resistance” [0032] of the flexible section.
Regarding claim 11, Kobayakawa and Wang disclose all the aspects of claim 1. Kobayakawa further discloses the second guide rail {4} has a first end {bottom end of 4} and a second end {top end of 4}, the first guide rail {portion of 1’ underneath 4 (Fig. 1)} has an end {top end} connected to the first end {bottom end of 4} of the second guide rail {4}, the first end {bottom end of 4} of the second guide rail {4} is adjacent to the first surface {inside surface of 1’ (Fig. 1)}, and the second end {top end} of the second guide rail {4} is away from the first surface {inside surface of 1’ (Fig. 1); the top end of member 4 extends at an incline away from the surface of 1’}.
Regarding claim 12, Kobayakawa and Wang disclose all the aspects of claim 1. Kobayakawa further discloses the first guide rail {portion of 1’ underneath 4 (Fig. 1)} is parallel to the first surface {inside surface of 1’ (Fig. 1)}, and the first guide rail {portion of 1’ underneath 4 (Fig. 1)} is a straight track {Figs. 1-3}.
Regarding claim 13, Kobayakawa and Wang disclose all the aspects of claim 1. Kobayakawa further discloses the second guide rail {4} is a straight track {inclined, but straight, no arc or curve (Figs. 1-3)}.
Regarding claim 18, Kobayakawa and Wang disclose all the aspects of claim 10. Kobayakawa and Wang further disclose the reinforcing skeleton {Wang: 315} is bonded with the flexible layer {Wang: 311; Par. 32 explains that “the box cover 31 is integrally formed” and Par. 32 explains that 31 comprises flexible layer 311 and reinforcing skeleton 315: “the rolling shutter type box cover 31 is integrally formed and can be elastically bent and deformed, and the rolling shutter type box cover 31 includes an integrally formed sheet-type substrate 311 that can be elastically bent and deformed. The sheet-type substrate 311 is, for example, nylon, Made of PP, PE and other materials with good elasticity. The thin-shaped substrate 311 is evenly distributed on the outer surface of the sheet-type substrate 311 facing away from the storage cavity with thickness-reducing grooves 313 penetrating transversely along the roller blind box cover. The roller blind box cover is bent and deformed during the sliding process. Of course, the roller blind box cover can also be formed by connecting multiple traditional roller blind pieces in series via a connection structure, but in this specific embodiment, the processing is convenient and the cost is low. And the sheet-type substrate 311 is evenly distributed on the side of the storage cavity 30 toward the inner side of a number of stiffeners extending along the width direction of the shutter-type box cover to improve the strength of the box cover, wherein the stiffeners are reinforced convex plates 315 , The shape-reinforced convex plate 315 can well improve the strength of the box cover and the compression resistance, and the shape-reinforced convex plate 315 encloses the cavity” [0032]; thus flexible layer 311 and reinforcing skeleton 315 are integrally formed (bonded)}.
Regarding claim 19, Kobayakawa and Wang disclose all the aspects of claim 10. Kobayakawa and Wang further disclose the reinforcing skeleton {Wang: 315} comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs {Wang: 315 (Figs. 6-7)} arranged at intervals along a sliding direction of the sliding plate {Wang: 31 (Figs. 6-7)}.
Regarding claim 20, Kobayakawa and Wang disclose all the aspects of claim 19. Kobayakawa further discloses the flexible section {21} has a first side surface {right side surface of 21 (Figs. 2-3)}, the first side surface {right side surface of 21 (Figs. 2-3)} faces away from the first surface {inside surface of 1’ (Fig. 1)}, and the first side surface {right side surface of 21 (Figs. 2-3)} is provided with a deforming groove {6 (Figs. 1-3)}.
Regarding claim 21, Kobayakawa and Wang disclose all the aspects of claim 20. Kobayakawa further discloses the first side surface {right side surface of 21 (Figs. 2-3)} is provided with a plurality of deforming grooves {6 (Figs. 1-3)}, the plurality of deforming grooves {6} are distributed at intervals along the sliding direction of the sliding plate {2’}, a convex portion {portion in between grooves 6 (Fig. 1)} is formed between adjacent two deforming grooves {6 (Fig. 1)}, a plurality of reinforcing ribs {portions in between grooves 6 (Fig. 1)} of the flexible section {21} are arranged corresponding to the convex portion {portion in between grooves 6 (Fig. 1)}, and each reinforcing rib {portion in between grooves 6 (Fig. 1)} corresponds to one convex portion {portion in between grooves 6 (Fig. 1)}.
Claim 14 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kobayakawa and Wang as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Takeshi (KR 2003/0079129).
Regarding claim 14, Kobayakawa and Wang disclose all the aspects of claim 1. Kobayakawa and Wang further disclose the reinforcing skeleton {Wang: 315} is integrated with the flexible layer {Wang: 311; Par. 32 explains that “the box cover 31 is integrally formed” and that the box cover 31 comprises 311 and 315: “the rolling shutter type box cover 31 is integrally formed and can be elastically bent and deformed, and the rolling shutter type box cover 31 includes an integrally formed sheet-type substrate 311 that can be elastically bent and deformed. The sheet-type substrate 311 is, for example, nylon, Made of PP, PE and other materials with good elasticity. The thin-shaped substrate 311 is evenly distributed on the outer surface of the sheet-type substrate 311 facing away from the storage cavity with thickness-reducing grooves 313 penetrating transversely along the roller blind box cover. The roller blind box cover is bent and deformed during the sliding process. Of course, the roller blind box cover can also be formed by connecting multiple traditional roller blind pieces in series via a connection structure, but in this specific embodiment, the processing is convenient and the cost is low. And the sheet-type substrate 311 is evenly distributed on the side of the storage cavity 30 toward the inner side of a number of stiffeners extending along the width direction of the shutter-type box cover to improve the strength of the box cover, wherein the stiffeners are reinforced convex plates 315 , The shape-reinforced convex plate 315 can well improve the strength of the box cover and the compression resistance, and the shape-reinforced convex plate 315 encloses the cavity” [0032]}.
However, Kobayakawa does not explicitly disclose the flexible layer is a soft rubber layer, and the reinforcing skeleton is integrated with the flexible layer by injection molding.
Takeshi teaches the flexible layer {40} is a soft rubber layer {“The sliding brake piece (40)… suitable material such as rubber” [0036]}.
In light of these teachings, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the safety belt sliding assembly, as disclosed by Kobayakawa and Wang, the flexible layer is a soft rubber layer, as taught by Takeshi, in order to provide a “suitable friction material” for a sliding member [0036].
Furthermore, the limitation “the reinforcing skeleton is integrated with the flexible layer by injection molding” is a product-by-process limitation, wherein “by injection molding” is the process by which the integrated reinforcing skeleton and flexible layer is produced. As this limitation is a product-by-process limitation, the limitation is only examined with regard to the claimed product, a reinforcing skeleton integrated with the flexible layer. If the product in the product-by-process claim is the same as or obvious from a product of the prior art, the claim is unpatentable even though the prior product was made by a different process. See MPEP 2113. As noted above, Wang discloses {Figs. 6-7} the reinforcing skeleton {315} and the flexible layer {311} are integrally formed [0032]. Accordingly, Wang discloses the limitation of “the reinforcing skeleton is integrated with the flexible layer by injection molding”.

Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3, and 15-17 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 claim 3, none of the prior art of record, either alone or in obvious combination discloses the safety belt sliding assembly according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing skeleton is embedded inside the flexible layer.
Regarding claim 15, none of the prior art of record, either alone or in obvious combination discloses the safety belt sliding assembly according to claim 4, wherein the reinforcing skeleton and the flexible layer are bonded by a glue or a double-sided tape.
Regarding claim 16, none of the prior art of record, either alone or in obvious combination discloses the safety belt sliding assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flexible section comprises a plurality of flexible layers, and the reinforcing skeleton is arranged between adjacent two flexible layers (emphasis added).
Regarding claim 17, none of the prior art of record, either alone or in obvious combination discloses the safety belt sliding assembly according to claim 10, wherein the reinforcing skeleton is embedded inside the flexible layer.

Conclusion
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/Daniel M. Keck/Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3614