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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of claims 1-13 in the reply filed on October 20, 2025 is acknowledged.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on April 28, 2023 and October 16, 2024 have been considered by the examiner.
Drawings
Thirty-two sheets for formal drawings were filed April 28, 2023 and have been accepted by the Examiner.
Specification
Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
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.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Simmons (US 2015/0378122 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Simmons discloses a surface mount module (100 in Figs. 1-6A) for distributing electrical power and fiber optic data connectivity from a power fiber cable (20), the surface mount module comprising: a base (120) having one or more features for attaching the surface mount module to a surface (see Figs. 3, 4A); a cover (110) attachable to the base to define an interior space inside the surface mount module, the interior space (Figs. 4C, 6A) including one or more wire management devices (137) for routing electrical power wires (26) and optical fibers (28) that break out from the power fiber cable; at least one port (132a) configured to provide fiber optic data connectivity with the optical fibers that break out from the power fiber cable inside the interior space; at least one port (132b) configured to distribute electrical power from the electrical power wires of the power fiber cable; and a power adapter (150) configured for fixation to the at least one port configured to distribute electrical power, and being further configured to receive an internal power connector (portion terminating electrical conductors 26 in Fig. 6C) at an interior side and to receive an external power connector (45 in Figs. 4A, 4C) at an exterior side.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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 of this title, 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.
The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 5-9, 12 and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Simmons (US 2015/0378122 A1).
Regarding claim 5, Simmons teaches the claimed invention except for a terminal cover. However, terminal covers are ubiquitous in the art of communications modules and as such, one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention would have found it obvious to use a terminal cover extending outwardly and configured to cover screw terminals on the external power connector when the external power connector is inserted into the power adapter for the purpose of preventing the external power connector from being disengaged.
Regarding claims 6-9, Simmons further discloses the internal power connector received at the interior side of the power adapter, and the external power connector received at the exterior side of the power adapter, and electrically connecting the external power connector to the internal power connector in Fig. 6C and paragraphs 0037 and 0058. Simmons teaches the claimed invention except for specifically stating the external power connector includes prongs. However, prongs mating with corresponding receptacles are ubiquitous in the art of communications modules and as such, one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention would have found it obvious to use prongs positioned inside a cavity, for mating the proximal end of the external power connector with a distal end of the internal power connector for the purpose of enhancing the electrical connection interface. Further, one having ordinary skill in the art would find it obvious to have the proximal end of the external power connector at least partially surrounding the distal end of the internal power connector as well as a latch providing a mechanical connection for the purpose of forming a rugged and robust device.
Regarding claims 12 and 13, Simmons discloses two ports for distributing electrical power and two ports for providing fiber optic data connectivity in Fig. 4C.
Claims 2-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Simmons (US 2015/0378122 A1) in view of Cowham et al. (US 10,622,768).
Regarding claims 2-4, Simmons teaches the claimed invention except for the adapter having catch features. Cowham discloses a power adapter (104 in Figs. 1, 5) including a first set of catch features (504 on top of adapter) and a second set of catch features (504 on bottom of adapter), the first and second sets of catch features being positioned on opposite sides of the power adapter, and each including a movable latch that flexes enabling a groove to catch onto a wall (accompanying description of Fig. 5 discloses mounting features 504 clip onto a structure such as a wall) that at least partially defines the at least one port configured to distribute electrical power. Cowham further discloses the power adapter includes a pair of arms (1504 in Fig. 15) extending outwardly from the interior side, each arm including a latch at a terminal end to fix the internal power connector (148 in Fig. 1) to the power adapter. Since both inventions relate to communications wires, one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention would have found it obvious to use the catch features disclosed by Cowham in the device of Simmons for the purpose of assisting in mounting the module to a structure.
Claims 10 and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Simmons (US 2015/0378122 A1) in view of Lee et al. (US 5,885,109).
Regarding claims 10 and 11, Simmons teaches the claimed invention except for the specifically stating screw terminals. Lee discloses power connectors (Fig. 8) comprising positive and negative polarity terminals (column 5, lines 13-22) configured to receive electrical power wires (1825), the power connector including screw terminals (1822) that each include a screw (1824) configured to be turned in clockwise and counterclockwise directions to tighten and untighten, respectively, the positive and negative polarity terminals onto the electrical power wires. Since both inventions relate to communications wires, one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention would have found it obvious to use screw terminals disclosed by Lee in the device of Simmons for the purpose of securing fastening the electrical wires in place. Further, it would be obvious to include the terminals in the internal and external power connectors in order to securely fasten the wires at both connectors.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRIS H CHU whose telephone number is (571)272-8655. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Uyen-Chau Le can be reached on 571-272-239797. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Any inquiry of a general or clerical nature should be directed to the Technology Center 2800 receptionist at telephone number (571) 272-1562.
Chris H. Chu
/CHRIS H CHU/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2874 October 27, 2025
Prosecution Insights