DETAILED ACTION
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 7/1/26 has been entered.
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(s) 1-9 and 11-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Goerlitzer et al. US 9455509 (“Goerlitzer”).
Regarding claim 1, Goerlitzer discloses a system comprising a terminal (100, including two or more series terminals 1, col. 5, lines 14-20, col. 3, lines 5-15) for electrical cables (inserted into 15, 20), comprising:
a housing (labeled H in annotated figure 1 below, including the housings of at least two adjacent series terminals 1) on which are provided at least two connections (at 10, 20) for electrically connecting in each case one electrical cable to one connection line (11, 21) arranged in the housing,
wherein the connection lines are electrically disconnected from each
other at a disconnection point at (at 12, 22) between two contacts (12,22), and
wherein the housing forms a plurality of receptacles (labeled R1, R2 below, the receptacles holding element 3 referred to also a functional elements 3, 4, 5, or 6) at which the contacts of the disconnection point of the connection lines are arranged such that they are each electrically contactable;
at least one component (one of functional element 3, 4, 5, or 6, contact blades, isolating blades, fuse elements, blocking elements such as blocking diodes and also test elements and the like) selectively attached to the plurality of receptacles to electrically contact the contacts of the disconnection point of the connection lines; and
at least one disconnection element (another of functional element 3, 4, 5, or 6, contact blades, isolating blades, fuse elements, blocking elements such as blocking diodes and also test elements and the like) selectively attached to the plurality of receptacles to electrically contact the contacts of the disconnection point of the connection lines.
To the extent that Goerlitzer does not explicitly disclose a figure including plural serial terminals 1, each series terminal 1 having a different functional component (3, 4, 5, 6, contact blades, isolating blades, fuse elements, blocking elements such as blocking diodes and also test elements and the like), such a combination of disclosed elements would have been obvious as a matter of user choice without patentable significance. “In the process, the functional zone is suitable for and designed for selectively and in particular alternately receiving and contacting various functional elements such that when a functional element is introduced into the functional zone it can be connected to the first and/or second functional contact.” Goerlitzer at col. 2, lines 40-50. “In the process, the functional element can be taken from a group of functional elements which comprises contact blades, isolating blades, fuse elements, blocking elements such as blocking diodes and also test elements and the like. Goerlitzer at col. 3, lines 45-55. “If applicable, the functional element can be replaced by another functional element, which additionally has or offers fuse functions, blocking functions or test functions.” Goerlitzer at col. 3,lines 55-65.
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Per claim 2, at least one insertion slope (labeled SLP in annotated figure 3 below) is formed on the receptacles.
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Per claim 3, there is at least one mounting region (labeled MR in annotated figure 1 below) for the a movable mounting of the components is on the receptacles.
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Per claim 4 the mounting region (labeled MR above) has a substantially circular cross-section.
Per claim 5, the contacts (12, 22) are each formed on a slot (i.e., with a slot, labeled “SLOT” in annotated figure 3 above) .
Per claim 6, the receptacles comprise a shaft (i.e. a vertical hole).
Per claim 7, the plurality of receptacles are arranged in a row (figure 1, labeled Row in annotated figure 2 below).
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Per claim 8, one of the connection lines (e.g., the connection line labeled BCL above) comprises a bus connection line having a plurality of contacts (12, 22), each contact of the plurality of contacts being arranged at one receptacle of the plurality of receptacles.
Per claim 9, at least one of the connections is designed in the form of comprises a push-in connection.
Per claim 11, at least one disconnection element comprises a contact blade for contacting the contacts of the connection lines, wherein the at least one disconnection element is attachable or attached to the plurality of receptacles such that the at least one disconnection element is mounted so as to be movable between a contact position, in which the at least one disconnection element electrically connects the contacts to each other, and a disconnection position, in which the at least one disconnection element electrically disconnects the two contacts.
Per claim 12 one component of the at least two different components comprises a passive or active electrical component.
Per claim 13 the at least one disconnection component comprises an engagement region (labeled ER below) for engagement by a tool. To the extent that Goerlitzer does not explicitly discuss the function of the engagement region, the function of the engagement region would have been obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art viewing the figures.
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Per claim 14 the at least one disconnection component comprises an engagement region (labeled ER above) for engagement by a tool to move the at least one disconnection element between the disconnection position and the contact position. To the extent that Goerlitzer does not explicitly discuss the function of the engagement region, the function of the engagement region would have been obvious to one with ordinary skill in the art viewing the figures.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues that one Goerlitzer does not teach both a component and disconnection element. The examiner maintains that Goerlitzer does as set out above and that using these various functional components would have been obvious for the reasons set out above.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROSS N GUSHI whose telephone number is (571)272-2005. The examiner can normally be reached Monday – Friday 8:00AM – 5PM EST.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christopher Koehler, can be reached at (571)272-3560. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ROSS N GUSHI/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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