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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 04/28/26 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
(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, is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(A)(1) as being anticipated by Strause (USPN 5,790,739).
With respect to claim 1, Strause shows a closure enclosing and protecting at least one line splice holder (90), the closure comprising: a first housing portion (110) enclosing at least a portion of a hollow interior of the closure, the at least one line splice holder (90) being located within the hollow interior and at least partially within the first housing portion (110), the first housing portion (110) having a portal (92) through which plural lines (fiber-optic cable disclosed) extend into the hollow interior; a second housing portion (32), closing the hollow interior, actuatable with respect to the first housing portion (110) to provide an additional portion of the hollow interior, the additional portion of the hollow interior being a volume to receive additional of the at least one line splice holder (second 90); and a coupling (44) for connecting the second housing portion (32) to the first housing portion (110).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 11-16,20, allowed.
Claims, 2,3,7, 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.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1, have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHAWN M BRADEN whose telephone number is (571)272-8026. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8am-5pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Orlando E Aviles-Bosques 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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/SHAWN M BRADEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3736
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