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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 10/28/2025 has been entered.
Claim Objections
Claim 10 is objected to because on line 2, “said body” lacks antecedent basis. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Interpretation
As explained in the action mailed 05/24/2024, the phrases “fastener means” and “holder means” are interpreted as invoking 112(f). In particular and in regard to claim 1, “fastener means” is interpreted as requiring a first plate and a second plate rotatably connected to the first plate, or a slider housing having a wedge, or a cylindrical ring with an opening angle associated with closure means as defined in paragraphs 5-8 of the present specification. The phrase “holder means” is interpreted as requiring a lace or tape. See [0059].
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.
Claims 1, 14, 15, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CN 108683028 (“Yao”).
Regarding claim 1, Yao discloses an electrical connector (1) comprising fastener means (housing with wedge means, see 4/5/6, 8, 13/14/18/19, see Figs. 1 and 4) for temporarily fastening a cable (3) to which the electrical connector is attached (see Figs. 1 and 3); wherein said fastener means comprises a housing (8/9/13/14/18/19) fastened on said connector, the housing comprises a first notch (the semi-circular shaped notch within 13, see Fig. 4) defining a through opening configured to receive a portion of the cable such that the cable extends out of the through opening from both sides of the through opening (See Fig. 1), a slider (the opposed 13/14) is arranged in the housing (14 telescopes within a housing portion, see Fig. 4 and the abstract), said slider configured to wedge said portion of the cable in the through opening (see Figs. 1 and 4) by a spring (15).
Regarding claim 14, Yao discloses the fastener means is an integral part of the connector (the fastener means is an integral part of the housing of the connector, see Fig. 1).
Regarding claim 15, Yao discloses the fastening means is configured to unfasten the cable when the electrical connector is in use (with the cable and connector engaged, the fastening means are capable of being manipulated to unfasten the cable, see Figs. 1 and 3).
Regarding claim 20, Yao discloses said slider comprises a second notch (see Fig. 4) and each of said first notch and said second notch comprises an arcuate portion configured to engage and wedge the portion of the cable (see Fig. 4).
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.
Claim 10 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yao in view of U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,139 (“Champion”).
Regarding claim 10, Yao does not disclose holder means that are fastened to said body of the connector. However, Champion teaches an electrical connector (see connection to 102, Fig. 2), with a body (101, 104, 105) and holder means (115, Velcro tape), are fastened to the body (see Fig. 3). It would have been obvious to provide the body and holder means of Champion, because this helps organize and route numerous wires on route through the body to the connectors held within the body, as seen in Figure 3.
Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yao in view of U.S. Pat. No. 7,168,973 (“Wascow”).
Regarding claim 12, Yao does not disclose wherein the cable is for recharging batteries of electric vehicles. However, Wascow teaches an electrical connector (20/44) which includes fastener means (1) 52 which has plate portion 22 and second rotating plate 62 which is connected to 22 and (2) 246 along with 226/236/240 which slide and wedge 70 within the housing, for temporarily fastening the cable to which the electrical connector is attached. Furthermore, the cable connection type is shown by the receptacle configuration in Figure 2 and this configuration is capable of being used to charge batteries in electric vehicles.
It would have been obvious to modify the connector of Yao in view of Wascow, so that the connector was an assembly which utilized a cable connector capable of recharging batteries of electric vehicles, because this makes the connector and fastener means structure of Yao more useful to a wider variety of users because this increases the variety of cables utilizing the connector with fastener means structure of Yao.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 10/28/2025 have been fully considered but they are not applicable to the current rejections.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 16 – 19 are allowed. The reasons for allowance for then pending claim 2 found in the action mailed 05/24/2024 are applicable to claim 16.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PAUL D BAILLARGEON whose telephone number is (571)272-0676. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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/PAUL D BAILLARGEON/ Examiner, Art Unit 2833
/renee s luebke/ Supervisory Patent Examiner
Art Unit 2833