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 § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 30-49 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 30, the limitation “wherein the first and the second connector element include in each case” is unclear. The examiner interprets as “wherein each of the first and the second connector element include:” for examination.
Claim 43, the limitation “wherein the counter connector elements include in each case:” is unclear. The examiner interprets as “wherein each of the counter connector elements include:” for examination.
Claims 30, 42-43, and 47, the limitation “in particular” is indefinite.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 30-49 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The prior art of record failed to teach the engagement step surface is formed at a transition from the connector element body to the insertion part and extending transverse to the connector element axis and outwards with respect to the connector element body.
The prior art of record also failed to teach the first insertion part of the first electrical connector element and the second insertion part of the second electrical connector element are arranged on opposite sides with respect to a longitudinal connector axis.
The prior art of record further failed to teach the biasing member being connected the first connector element body and the second connector element body and is configured to bias the first insertion part of the first electrical connector element and the second insertion part of the second electrical connector element towards each other, if the first and second connector element engagement direction are pointing towards each other, or, alternatively, to bias the first insertion part of the first electrical connector element and the second insertion part of the second electrical connector element away from each other if the first and second connector element engagement direction are pointing away from each other.
Conclusion
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/TRUC T NGUYEN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834