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 .
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 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by Lin et al (US 8,496,493; hereinafter Lin).
Regarding claim 1, Lin discloses an enclosure (30; see figure 1) for retaining at least one networking component (20), the enclosure (30) comprising: a shell defining an interior volume (see figure 1), the shell including an upper retention member forming a channel (see figure 3); a retention bracket (40) adapted to be at least partially disposed within the interior volume of the shell (see figure 3), the retention bracket (40) including: a base panel (41) having an upper hook member (417) adapted to engage the upper retention member of the shell (see figures 3 and 4) to slidably couple the retention bracket (40) with the shell (see figures 3 and 4), and a retaining panel (43) extending distally from the base panel (41), the retaining panel (43) including a lower platform and a distal platform (see figure 2), wherein the base panel (41), the lower platform of the retaining panel (43), and the distal platform of the retaining panel cooperate to receive and retain the at least one networking component (20, see figure 1).
Regarding claim 2, Lin discloses the enclosure (30; see figure 1), wherein the shell further comprises a lower retention member (313) forming a channel, the base panel (41) of the retention bracket (40) further including a lower hook member (417) adapted to engage the lower retention member (313) of the shell to slidably couple the retention bracket with the shell (see figures 3 and 4).
Regarding claim 3, Lin discloses the enclosure (30; see figure 1), wherein the upper hook member (417) of the base panel (41) includes a stop member to limit lateral movement of the retention bracket (40) relative to the upper retention member (see figures 2 and 3).
Regarding claim 4, Lin discloses the enclosure (30; see figure 1), wherein the lower platform includes a passthrough opening to accommodate at least one transmission cable (see figure 2).
Regarding claim 5, Lin discloses the enclosure (30; see figure 1), further comprising at least one ventilation opening (see figure 2) formed on the base panel (41).
Regarding claim 6, Lin discloses the enclosure (30; see figure 1), further comprising at least one ventilation opening (see figure 2) formed on the retaining panel (43).
Regarding claim 7, Lin discloses the enclosure (30, see figure 1), wherein the base panel (41) of the retention bracket (40) further includes a chamfered surface (see figure 2) to slidably engage a corresponding chamfered surface of the upper retention member (20; see figures 2 and 4).
Regarding claim 8, Lin discloses the enclosure (30; see figure 1), wherein the base panel (41) of the retention bracket (40) further includes a grooved region (413,419) adapted to receive a securing fastener (60).
Regarding claim 9, Lin discloses the enclosure (30; see figure 1), wherein the securing fastener (60) comprises a hook and loop member (see figure 2; column 3 lines 27-35) adapted to releasably retain the at least one networking component (20).
Regarding claim 10, Lin discloses the enclosure (30; see figure 1), wherein the retaining panel (43) is adjustable to receive at least one networking component (20) having different dimensions than the at least one networking component (see figure 2).
Regarding claim 11, Lin discloses a retention bracket (40) adapted to retain an optical network terminal (20), the retention bracket (40) including: a base panel (41) having an upper hook member (417) adapted to engage a portion of a shell of a housing (30) to slidably couple the retention bracket (40) with the shell (see figure 1 and 3), and a retaining panel (43) extending distally from the base panel (41), the retaining panel (43) including a lower platform and a distal platform (see figure 2), wherein the base panel (41), the lower platform of the retaining panel, and the distal platform of the retaining panel cooperate to receive and retain the at least one networking component (20; see figures 2-4).
Regarding claim 12, Lin discloses the retention bracket (40), further including a lower hook member (417) formed on the base panel (41), the lower hook member (417) adapted to engage a portion of the shell of the housing to slidably couple the retention bracket therewith (see figures 2-4).
Regarding claim 13, Lin discloses the retention bracket (40), wherein the upper hook member (417) of the base panel (41) includes a stop member to limit lateral movement (see figures 2-4).
Regarding claim 14, Lin discloses the retention bracket (40), wherein the lower platform of the retaining panel (43) includes a passthrough opening to accommodate at least one transmission cable (see figure 2).
Regarding claim 15, Lin discloses the retention bracket (40), further comprising at least one ventilation opening (see figure 2) formed on the base panel (41).
Regarding claim 16, Lin discloses the retention bracket (40), further comprising at least one ventilation opening (see figure 2) formed on the retaining panel (43).
Regarding claim 17, Lin discloses the retention bracket (40), wherein the base panel (41) further includes a chamfered surface (see figure 2) for sliding engagement with the shell (see figure 2).
Regarding claim 18, Lin discloses the retention bracket (40), wherein the base panel (41) further includes a grooved region (413) adapted to receive a securing fastener (60).
Regarding claim 19, Lin discloses the retention bracket (40), wherein the securing fastener (60) comprises a hook and loop member (see figure 2; column 3 lines 27-35) adapted to releasably retain the at least one networking component (20).
Regarding claim 20, Lin discloses the retention bracket (40), wherein the retaining panel (43) is adjustable to receive at least one networking component having different dimensions than the at least one networking component (see figure 2).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Kato et al (US 12,356,563), Ukai et al (US 11,654,843), Huang et al (US 8,228,687), Ye et al (US 8,226,050), Chen (US 7,038,907), Chen et al (US 6,798,653) and Liu et al (US 6,343,009) disclose a bracket for retaining a network terminal.
Any inquiry concerning this communication should be directed to Angel R. Estrada at telephone number (571) 272-1973. The Examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday (8:30am -5:00pm).
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Imani N. Hayman can be reached on (571) 270-5528. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) OR 571-272-1000.
January 23, 2026
/ANGEL R ESTRADA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2841