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 .
Election/Restrictions
Claims 12-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected method, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 11/19/25.
As noted by Applicant, claims 19-20 were mistakenly left out of the original restriction requirement. Claims 19-20 should have been included in the group of method claims, Group II. Thus, These claims are now withdrawn, along with method claims 12-18, in view of election of Group I article claims.
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.
Claim(s) 1-2 and 6-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Altero et al. (US 2022/0109135).
Altero discloses a battery terminal clamp assembly as shown in the following annotated figure:
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With regard to claim 2, the claimed angled guide portions are shown in annotated Figure 3:
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With regard to claims 6-7, see Figures 5 and 9 showing the fastened and unfastened positions of the first and second connector ends.
With regard to claim 8, the mounting clamp portion shown in Figure 3 substantially covers the post connector portion. Therefore, the mounting clamp is considered to “substantially enclose the post connector” as claimed.
With regard to claim 9, see tapered battery post (22) in Figure 3.
With regard to claim 10, nut (2) attaches to the mounting clamp side of the battery terminal clamp assembly. Stud (74/18) connects with the post connector side of the assembly. See Figure 3, above.
With regard to claim 11, the thread formed on the stud (74) shown in Fig 3, above, corresponds to the claimed “protuberances.”
Claim(s) 1-11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by CN 105009327 (see English translation included with this action).
CN’327 discloses a battery terminal clamp structure corresponding to the limitations of claim 1 as shown in annotated Figure 1:
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With regard to claim 2, see annotated Figure 3, as follows:
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With regard to claims 3-4, see annotated Figure 4, as follows:
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With regard to claims 5-7, see Figures 1 and 2 showing the unfastened position (1) and the fastened position (2). In Figure 1, the lowermost end portions of 33L and 33R correspond to the claimed second and fourth guide ends, respectively.
With regard to claim 8, the mounting clamp portion shown in Figure 4 substantially covers the post connector portion. Therefore, the mounting clamp is considered to “substantially enclose the post connector” as claimed.
With regard to claim 9, the battery post is described as having a “frustum” shape (see last paragraph on p 4 of the translation).
With regard to claim 10, nut (60) attaches to the mounting clamp side of the battery terminal clamp assembly. Stud (51) connects with the post connector side of the assembly. See Figure 1, above.
With regard to claim 11, the grooves (24) formed on the battery post opening (22) correspond to the claimed “protuberances.” See Fig 1.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HOLLY RICKMAN whose telephone number is (571)272-1514. The examiner can normally be reached Mon, Tues, Thurs, 9am-3pm ET.
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/Holly Rickman/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1785