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 .
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 has been entered.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 11-14 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being unpatentable over Anspach (US 3334327).
Regarding claim 11: Anspach (Figures 1-2) teaches a contact terminal for a cable, the contact terminal comprising:
a first body portion (i.e. from 11 to far end of 14) defining a first diameter (i.e. diameter between 14 and 18), a first end (i.e. 14), and a second end (i.e. 11) opposite the first end, wherein the first body portion extends along a first distance between the first end and the second end; and
a second body portion (i.e. 10, 12, 13) extending from the first body portion and defining a second diameter (i.e. diameter of 12), wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter of the first body portion,
wherein the first body portion comprises a compressed section (i.e. portion between and including 14 and 18) that defines a channel (i.e. portion between 14 and 18) in the first body portion, the channel being configured to receive a bracket of a connecting device (i.e. as the portion between 14 and 18 is configured to receive).
Regarding claim 12: Anspach (Figures 1-2) teaches the contact terminal of claim 11, wherein the second body portion extends from the first end of the first body portion, and wherein the contact terminal further includes an annular projection (i.e. 11) extending from the first body portion, the annular projection being axially spaced apart from the second body portion.
Regarding claim 13: Anspach (Figures 1-2) teaches the contact terminal of claim 11, wherein the second body portion extends from the first end of the first body portion, and wherein the contact terminal further includes a third body portion (i.e. 17) extending from the second end of the first body portion, the third body portion being axially spaced apart from the second body portion by the first distance.
Regarding claim 14: Anspach (Figures 1-2) teaches the contact terminal of claim 11, wherein the second body portion extends from the second end of the first body portion (i.e. as in figure 1).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 11-14 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.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5, 9-10, 15, and 19-20 allowed. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Claim 1 now includes the subject matter deemed allowable in the previous rejection. Regarding claim 15, applicant’s arguments are persuasive. The prior art of record does not teach a passage, and the first slot and the second slot being configured to receive the at least the portion of the contact terminal therein alone or in obvious combination with the remainder of the claim.
Claims 2-5, 9-10, and 19-20 allowed at least for their dependence on allowed claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Gregory Mangot whose telephone number is 703-756-5737. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm ET.
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/GREGORY L MANGOT/Examiner, Art Unit 2834
/CHRISTOPHER M KOEHLER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834