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 Objections
Claim 2, line 4, “a second direction” should be --the second direction--;
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.
Claims 1-3 and 9-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Schildkraut et al. (4,484,790).
Regarding claim 1, Schildkraut et al. disclose an electrical connector assembly, comprising:
an electrical connector, comprising a casing (10, Fig. 2) and a coupling component (34), wherein the coupling component is rotatably disposed on the casing, and the coupling component has at least one first ratchet tooth (34); and
a rotatable sleeve (90, Fig. 2), rotatably disposed on the casing, wherein the rotatable sleeve has at least one second ratchet tooth (102), the at least one second ratchet tooth of the rotatable sleeve is engaged with the at least one first ratchet tooth of the coupling component merely along a first direction for rotating the coupling component relative to the casing (Fig. 3);
wherein the at least one second ratchet tooth of the rotatable sleeve is not engaged with the at least one first ratchet tooth of the coupling component along a second direction opposite to the first direction for not rotating the coupling component relative to the casing.
Regarding claim 2, the rotatable sleeve comprises an outer annular portion (92, Fig. 2) and at least one flexible portion (100) connected to each other, the at least one second ratchet tooth (102) is located on the at least one flexible portion; when the rotatable sleeve is rotated along the second direction opposite to the first direction, the at least one first ratchet tooth presses against the at least one second ratchet tooth so as to deform the at least one flexible portion.
Regarding claim 3, the at least one first ratchet tooth comprises a plurality of first ratchet teeth (34, Figs. 2 and 3) arranged along a circumferential direction of the coupling component, the at least one second ratchet tooth comprises two second ratchet teeth (102, Figs. 2 and 3), the at least one flexible portion comprises two flexible portions (100), the two flexible portions are located opposite to each other, and the two second ratchet teeth are respectively located on the two flexible portions, and the two second ratchet teeth respectively correspond to two of the plurality of first ratchet teeth located opposite to each other.
Regarding claim 9, Fig. 2 shows the rotatable sleeve (90) is made of plastic material.
Regarding claim 10, the coupling component has an inner threaded structure (5, Fig. 2).
Claims 1 and 4-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Guala (10,279,160).
Regarding claim 1, Guala discloses an electrical connector assembly, comprising:
an electrical connector, comprising a casing (2, Fig. 2) and a coupling component (13), wherein the coupling component is rotatably disposed on the casing, and the coupling component has at least one first ratchet tooth (13, Fig. 6); and
a rotatable sleeve (1, Fig. 2), rotatably disposed on the casing, wherein the rotatable sleeve has at least one second ratchet tooth (12, Fig. 6), the at least one second ratchet tooth of the rotatable sleeve is engaged with the at least one first ratchet tooth of the coupling component merely along a first direction for rotating the coupling component relative to the casing (Fig. 6);
wherein the at least one second ratchet tooth of the rotatable sleeve is not engaged with the at least one first ratchet tooth of the coupling component along a second direction opposite to the first direction for not rotating the coupling component relative to the casing.
Regarding claim 4, the rotatable sleeve has an outer annular surface (Fig. 2), a first tool hole (FIGURE A below) and at least one second tool hole (FIGURE A below), the first tool hole and the at least one second tool hole are respectively recessed from different sides of the outer annular surface and expose different portions of the coupling component.
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Regarding claim 5, the rotatable sleeve further has an end surface (FIGURE A above), the end surface is connected to a periphery of the outer annular surface, and a distance from the first tool hole to the end surface is different from a distance from the at least one second tool hole to the end surface.
Regarding claim 6, the at least one second tool hole comprises two second tool holes (FIGURE A above), and distances from the two second tool holes to the end surface are different from each other.
Regarding claim 7, FIGURE A above shows the first tool hole and the at least one second tool hole are respectively recessed from two opposite sides of the outer annular surface.
Regarding claim 8, Fig. 19 shows the rotatable sleeve (19) has an outer annular surface and a plurality of anti-slip structures located on the outer annular surface.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-10 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
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THANH TAM T LE whose telephone number is (571)272-2094. The examiner can normally be reached 9AM-6PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Abdul Riyami can be reached at 571-270-3119. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/THANH TAM T LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831 06/03/26
thanh-tam.le@uspto.gov
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