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 .
35 U.S.C. 103 rejection
Claim(s) 12-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kauffmann (US 20190009681) in view of Prosser et al (US 20120303213).
Regarding claim 12, Kuffmann shows a column charging system (Kuffmann figs. 1, 20 ) for electric vehicles (100) comprising:
- a base portion (Kuffmann figs. 1a-1b: element 104) fastened on a plane resting on a ground and configured to receive a terminal portion of a main power supply (¶0086: in the ground and is connected to a power source );
-a charging device (Kuffmann fig. 1b: 112) having a top body (118, 800 in fig. 8A), configured to be connected to an electric vehicle (100), and a bottom end (400), opposite to said top body (118), the bottom end (400) being positioned close to said base portion (104) and configured to convey electricity from said base portion (104) to said top body (108);
-at least a connector 308 – male: see 103 reasoning below) fastened to said base portion (104) in a predetermined position and connected to said terminal portion, and at least a connector 408- female: see 103 reasoning below) fastened to said bottom end (400) and electrically connected to said top body (118),
wherein said
- positioning devices (116, 108, 202, 306) for positioning said charging device (112) with respect to said base portion (104, 106);
and
- further comprising a casing (114, 106) surrounding said positioning devices (116, 118, 202, 306) and interposed in contact between said top body (118) and said base portion (104);
said charging device (112) being movable from an inactive position (308 and 408 are disengaged), wherein said bottom end (400) is moved away from said base portion (104), and an operating position (308 and 408 are engaged), wherein said
an overall configuration being such that, during a passage from the inactive position (308 and 408 are disengaged) to the operating position (308 and 408 are engaged), said charging device (112) is guided by said positioning devices (116, 108, 202, 306), said
wherein said positioning devices (116, 108, 202, 306) comprises a plurality of longitudinal elements (116, 118, 202, 306) having side walls (side walls of 116, 118 etc. and side walls creating slots where 1200, 1202 are sliding on figs. 12-13) carrying a sliding surface on which said charging device (112) is constrained to slide in the passage (guided by 116, 108, 202, 306) from said inactive position (308 and 408 are disengaged) to said operating position (308 and 408 are engaged), and wherein said longitudinal elements (116, 108, 202, 306) are fastened to said base portion (104) to be placed around said
wherein said longitudinal elements (116, 108, 202, 306) extend outgoing from said base portion (104) for a length so that, in said operating position (308 and 408 are engaged), they are at least partially (upper portion 116 in fig. 1b; ¶0078: a scissor mechanism 116 mounted to the inside of the container 118) inserted in said top body (118),
wherein said charging device (112) comprises an elongated body (body 114) carrying said bottom end (400), said elongated body (114) having a smaller cross section (cross section of 114, see fig. 1b) than the cross section (cross section of 800 in figs. 8a and 1b) of said top body (118, 800 in fig. 8a) at a junction point between said elongated body (116, 108, 202, 306) and said top body (118),
wherein said elongated body (116, 108, 202, 306) comprises an internal surface configured to slide on said sliding surface (see mechanism 108, 116 and slots on figs. 12-13) in the passage from said inactive position (308 and 408 are disengaged) to said operating position (308 and 408 are engaged).
Kauffmann differs from the claimed invention in that the female and male connectors (308, 408) are in reverse position. However, it is notoriously well known that the positions of female and male connectors are interchangeable, this is taught by Prosser’s vehicle charging plug/port (¶0140). Hence, it would have been obvious for one skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the present application to recognize that Kauffmann female and male connectors can be interchangeable applied as taught by Prosser because there is no operational difference when the female and male connectors are swapped in positions.
Regarding claim 13, the combination of Kuffmann and Prossor shows that the elongated body has a quadrilateral cross section (see each section of Kuffmann’s rectangular shaped scissor mechanism 108, 116 in fig. 12).
Regarding claim 14, the combination of Kuffmann and Prossor shows devices (Kuffmann 202, 306 in figs. 2, 3a) for tightening said longitudinal elements (i.e. 108) to said top body (118).
Regarding claim 15, the combination of Kuffmann and Prossor shows that said female connector and said male connector comprise each one a contact edge complementary to each other (Kuffmann: 308 in fig. 3a, 408 in fig. 4a: male connector is complementarily inserted into female connect; Prossor: figs 11c and 11b, male connector is complementarily inserted into female connector).
Regarding claim 16, the combination of Kuffmann and Prossor shows at least one between said female connector and said male connector comprises a gasket-like element (Prossor figs. 11b-11c, such as insertable locking edge) interposed in contact between said contact edges, the configuration being such that in said operating position said contact edges transmit compression forces on said gasket-like element.
Regarding claim 17, the combination of Kuffmann and Prossor shows that said base portion (Kuffmann: 104 in fig. 1b) comprises a supporting stirrup (706 in fig. 7) thereon said female connector is fixed, raised with respect to said resting plane (bottom of 104) and configured to transmit load stresses from said female connector to said resting plane.
Regarding claim 18, the combination of Kuffmann and Prossor shows that said supporting stirrup has an overturned U-like shape (see Kuffmann: 706 in fig. 7).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JACK CHIANG whose telephone number is (571)272-7483. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday -Friday from 8am to 6pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kiesha Bryant, can be reached at telephone number 571-272-3606. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JACK CHIANG/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2851