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 § 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.
Claims 1-5 and 8-13 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nakamura (US 2020/0259277 A1), Komoto (US 10886650 B1), and Matsuo (US 2021/0075146 A1).
Regarding claim 1: Nakamura (Figures 16 and 18) teaches a connector for connecting a conductor portion of a covered electric wire to a flexible conductor exposed on at least one surface of a sheet type conductive member, the covered electric wire comprising an insulating cover portion covering an outer periphery of the conductor portion, the connector comprising:
a first insulator (i.e. 82) including a first retaining surface (i.e. bottom surface of 82) and a protrusion portion (i.e. 86) protruding from the first retaining surface; and a second insulator (i.e. 80) including a second retaining surface (i.e. top surface of 80) opposed to the first retaining surface and a recess portion (i.e. 36) formed in the second retaining surface and corresponding to the protrusion portion,
wherein the first insulator and the second insulator have an insulating cover retaining portion (i.e. 816 and 836, see figure 12),
wherein the first insulator and the second insulator are connected to each other with the insulating cover portion of the covered electric wire being retained in the insulating cover retaining portion and the sheet type conductive member and the conductor portion of the covered electric wire being held between the first retaining surface and the second retaining surface, and at least part of the protrusion portion is housed in the recess portion, whereby the conductor portion of the covered electric wire is electrically connected to the flexible conductor of the sheet type conductive member in the recess portion.
but does not specifically teach the protrusion portion formed on the first retaining surface; and the insulating cover retaining portion including an insertion groove formed on the first retaining surface and another insertion groove formed on the second retaining surface.
however, Komoto (figure 3) teaches a protrusion portion (i.e. 15) formed on the first retaining surface (i.e. 14A).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to modify the connector taught by Nakamura to have the protrusion formed on the first retaining surface as taught by Komoto since connecting the protrusion and first insulator consolidates assembly by removing the step of inserting the protrusion separately.
Furthermore, Matsuo (Figures 4-9) teaches the insulating cover retaining portion (i.e. 12C and 14C) including an insertion groove (i.e. 14D) formed on the first retaining surface (i.e. bottom surface of 14) and another insertion groove (i.e. 12D) formed on the second retaining surface (i.e. top surface of 12).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to modify the connector taught by Nakamura and Komoto to have the insertion grooves as taught by Matsuo so as to accommodate and route the wire and conductor as desired.
Regarding claim 2: Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo teach the connector according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion portion has a prismatic shape (i.e. as taught by Nakamura and Komoto), and the recess portion has a cylindrical inner surface (i.e. Komoto 12B as in figure 3).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to modify the second insulator taught by Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo to have a cylindrical inner surface as taught by Komoto so as to better isolate each of the conductor splices from one another.
Regarding claim 3: Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo teach the connector according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion portion has a circular cylindrical shape (i.e. as in Komoto figure 12), and the recess portion has a cylindrical inner surface (i.e. as 12B has in Komoto figure 3).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to further modify the protrusion and recess portion taught by Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo to have cylindrical shape and a complimentary cylindrical surface as taught by Komoto. Komoto teaches a number of different design choices for the protrusions as in figures 4, 5, 12-18, and 21 and it would be obvious to select one for the desired connection.
Regarding claim 4: Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo teach the connector according to claim 1, Komoto further teaches wherein the protrusion portion has an intermediate retaining portion of groove shape (i.e. groove between the top cone and base contact of figure 16) for retaining an intermediate part of the conductor portion of the covered electric wire.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to modify the connector taught by Nakamura, Komoto, and Mastuo to have the intermediate retaining portion taught by Komoto since piercing the substrate this way improves electrical connection and mechanical securement.
Regarding claim 5: Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo teach the connector according to claim 1, Nakamura further teaches further comprising a relay member (i.e. 40) having conductivity and disposed in the recess portion, and wherein the conductor portion of the covered electric wire is electrically connected to the flexible conductor via the relay member (i.e. as in figure 18).
Regarding claim 8: Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo teach the connector according to claim 1, wherein the conductor portion of the covered electric wire is brought into direct contact with and electrically connected to the flexible conductor.
Regarding claim 9: Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo teach the connector according to claim 8, Nakamura teaches further comprising a contact force-securing member (i.e. 40) for securing a contact force between the conductor portion and the flexible conductor, the contact force-securing member being disposed on an outside of the conductor portion and the flexible conductor that are in contact with each other in the recess portion (i.e. as in figure 18).
Regarding claim 10: Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo teach the connector according to claim 9, Nakamura further teaches wherein the contact force-securing member is made of a metal material (i.e. as in paragraph [0037], ln. 5)
but Nakamura does not specifically teach the contact force-securing member has a cylindrical shape.
However, Komoto teaches wherein the contact force-securing member has a cylindrical shape (i.e. as 13 does in figure 3).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to modify the contact force-securing member taught by Nakamura to have a cylindrical shape as taught by Komoto since this provides better surface contact with the flat flexible cable.
Regarding claim 11: Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo teach the connector according to claim 1, Nakamura further teaches wherein the sheet type conductive member extends in a predetermined direction from the first insulator and the second insulator along the first retaining surface and the second retaining surface, and the covered electric wire extends in an opposite direction of the predetermined direction from the first insulator and the second insulator along the first retaining surface and the second retaining surface (i.e. as in figure 18).
Regarding claim 12: Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo teach the connector according to claim 1, Nakamura (Figure 18) further teaches wherein one of the first insulator and the second insulator includes a tip retaining portion (i.e. portion between 40 and 86 included in 80) for retaining a tip of the conductor portion of the covered electric wire.
Regarding claim 13: Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo teach the connector according to claim 12, Nakamura further teaches wherein the tip retaining portion includes a slit (i.e. portion between 40 and 86 is a slit) in which the tip of the conductor portion is inserted.
Claims 6-7 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nakamura, Komoto, Matsuo, and Hashiguchi (US 2021/0104824 A1).
Regarding claim 6: Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo teach the connector according to claim 5, Komoto (Figure 3) further teaches wherein the relay member (i.e. 13) includes a tubular portion (i.e. 13A) of cylindrical shape,
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to modify the relay taught by Nakamura to have a tubular portion as taught by Komoto since surrounding the protrusion from all sides provides more contact area between the relay, conductors, and protrusion.
Now, in combination, Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo teach the flexible conductor is held between an outer surface of the protrusion portion and an inner surface of the tubular portion (i.e. as in Nakamura figure 18 per the combination),
but do not further teach the conductor portion of the electric wire is held between an outer surface of the tubular portion and an inner surface of the recess portion.
However, Hashiguchi (Figure 12) teaches the conductor portion (i.e. 21A) of the electric wire is held between an outer surface of the tubular portion (i.e. outer surface of 15D) and an inner surface of the recess portion (i.e. 12B)
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to modify the arrangement of the connector taught by Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo to hold the wire between the outer surface of the tubular portion and the inner surface of the recess portion as taught by Hashiguchi because this allows the tubular portion to better conform around the flexible conductor to the surface of the protrusion, thereby providing better contact area with the flexible conductor, while still accommodating and connecting the electric wire.
Regarding claim 7: Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo teach the connector according to claim 5, Komoto (Figure 3) teaches wherein the relay member (i.e. 13) includes a tubular portion (i.e. 13A) of cylindrical shape,
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to modify the relay taught by Nakamura to have a tubular portion as taught by Komoto since surrounding the protrusion from all sides provides more contact area between the relay, conductors, and the protrusion.
Now, in combination, Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo teach the conductor portion of the electric wire is held between an outer surface of the protrusion portion and an inner surface of the tubular portion (i.e. as in Nakamura figure 18 per the combination),
but do not specifically teach the flexible conductor is held between an outer surface of the tubular portion and an inner surface of the recess portion.
However, Hashiguchi (Figure 12) teaches the flexible conductor (i.e. 21A) is held between an outer surface of the tubular portion (i.e. 15D) and an inner surface of the recess portion (i.e. 12B).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to modify the arrangement of the connector taught by Nakamura and Komoto to hold the flexible conductor between an outer surface of the tubular portion and an inner surface of the recess portion so the flexible conductor can better conform to the tubular portion, thereby providing better contact area between the two.
Claim 15 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nakamura, Komoto, Matsuo, and Carbone (US 2016/0093995 A1).
Regarding claim 15: Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo teach the connector according to claim 1, Nakamura (Figure 22) further teaches wherein one of the first insulator and the second insulator includes a boss (i.e. 816), another one of the first insulator and the second insulator includes a through-hole (i.e. 836) which the boss penetrates,
but do not specifically teach a head of the boss having penetrated the through-hole is thermally deformed.
However, Carbone (Figure 6) teaches a head of the boss (i.e. 50)having penetrated the through-hole (i.e. 34)is thermally deformed (i.e. heat staking of paragraph [0028]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to modify the connector taught by Nakamura, Komoto, and Matsuo to have a thermally deformed head of the boss as taught by Carbone since this is a matter of design choice amongst known methods of permanently securing bosses within a through-hole.
Claim 16 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nakamura, Komoto, Matsuo, Carbone, and Bishop (US 2012/0003850 A1).
Regarding claim 16: Nakamura, Komoto, Matsuo, and Carbone teach the connector according to claim 15, but do not specifically teach wherein the boss includes a slit in which the conductor portion of the covered electric wire is inserted.
However, Bishop (Figures 1 and 10) teaches wherein the boss (i.e. 44) includes a slit (i.e. bottom slit of 44) in which the conductor portion (i.e. 58) of the electric wire (i.e. 54) is inserted (i.e. as in figure 1).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to modify the connector taught by Nakamura, Komoto, Matsuo, and Carbone with the boss including a slit and arrangement taught by Biship to better secure the electric wire between the two insulators without damaging the electric wire.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments 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.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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/GREGORY L MANGOT/Examiner, Art Unit 2834
/CHRISTOPHER M KOEHLER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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