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 .
Response to Amendment
This action is responsive to the preliminary amendment received January 03, 2024. Claims 3, 4, 8-10, 13-15, and 18-20 are amended. Claims 21-30 are canceled. No claims are newly added. Claims 1-20 are currently pending in the application.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on April 04, 2024 and August 07, 2024 are being considered by the examiner.
Drawings
The drawings were received on January 03, 2024. These drawings are acceptable.
Claim Objections
Claim 16 is objected to because of the following informalities: claim 16, line 9-10, the phrase “a second material” is the second recitation of “a second material” and is instead interpreted as “the second material”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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 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(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Smith et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2010/0207001, hereinafter referred to simply as “Smith”). Smith anticipates claims:
1. A clamp (clamp 10 is interpreted as the clamp; see figures 1, 2 and 5) for securing a cable to a support, the clamp comprising:
a first section (first retention section 16 is interpreted as the first section) comprising,
a first base portion (first body portion 12 is interpreted as the first base portion) constructed from a first material (see paragraph 0041; polyamide is taught as an example of the first material),
a first bushing (first insert portion 24 is interpreted as the first bushing) fixed to the first base portion (see paragraph 0023 and figures 1, 2 and 5) and constructed from a second material (for example, rubber, see paragraph 0040) that is more compressible than the first material (see paragraph 0040), the first bushing including a first groove (the top half portion of aperture 40 is interpreted as the first groove) having at least one first projection (the splines 44 are interpreted as the projections), wherein the at least one first projection is configured to deform based on the size of the cable received within the first groove (see paragraph 0027); and
a second section (second retention section 29 is interpreted as the second section) removable connected to the first section (see figures 1, 2 and 5; the clamp can be in a closed state, as shown in figures 1, 2 and 5, or be opened, the opening being interpreted as being removable connected from the closed state), the second section comprising,
a second base portion (second body portion 14 is interpreted as the second base portion) constructed from a third material (see paragraph 0041),
a second bushing (third insert member 34 is interpreted as the second bushing) fixed to the second base portion and constructed from a fourth material that is more compressible than the third material (see paragraph 0040), the second bushing including a second groove (the bottom half portion of aperture 40 is interpreted as the second groove) aligned with the first groove (see figure 1), the second groove having at least one second projection (splines 44’ are interpreted as the second projection), wherein the at least one second projection is configured to deform based on the size of the cable received within the second groove (see paragraph 0027).
2. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the first bushing is overmolded onto the first base portion, and wherein the second bushing is overmolded onto the second base portion (see paragraph 0023; the molding is interpreted as being overmolded).
3. The clamp of claim, wherein the first material and the third material are the same material (see paragraph 0041), and wherein the second material and the fourth material are the same material (see paragraph 0040).
4. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the first section further comprising a third bushing (second insert portion 26 is interpreted as the third bushing) spaced apart from the first bushing and fixed to the first base portion (see figure 1), wherein the third bushing is constructed from a fifth material (see paragraph 0040) that is more compressible than the first material, and wherein the third bushing includes a third groove (the top half portion of aperture 42 is interpreted as the third groove) having at least one third projection (splines 44), the at least one third projection is configured to deform based on the size of the cable received within the third groove (see paragraph 0027).
5. The clamp of claim 4, wherein the second bushing further comprises a fourth groove (the bottom half of aperture 42 is interpreted as the fourth groove) aligned with the third groove and spaced apart from the second groove (see figure 1), the fourth groove having at least one fourth projection (splines 44’), wherein the at least one fourth projection is configured to deform based on the size of the cable received within the fourth groove (see paragraph 0027).
6. The clamp of claim 4, wherein the first section includes a first central portion (the portion surrounding the cavity 92 is interpreted as the first central portion) extending from the first base portion, and wherein the first central portion at least partially forms a first compartment and a second compartment (the left and right halves of the structure are interpreted as the first and second compartments, see figure 1).
7. The clamp of claim 6, wherein the second bushing contacts the first central portion when the second section is connected to the first section (see figure 1).
8. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the first bushing includes a pair of angled portions forming either side of the first groove (see figure 1), wherein the pair of angled portions are configured to move relative to one another when the cable is received within the first groove (see figure 1).
9. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the first section includes at least one first connecting projection (leading end 98 is interpreted as the first connecting projection, see figure 2) extending from the first base portion and the second section includes at least one second connecting projection (engagement tongue 58 is interpreted as the second connecting projection) extending from the second base portion, wherein the at least one first connecting projection and the at least one second connecting projection are configured to engage when the first section is connected to the second section (see figure 2).
10. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the at least one first connecting projection engages the at least one second connecting projection with a snap fit, friction fit, press fit (see figure 2, all of these are met).
11. A clamp (clamp 10 is interpreted as the clamp; see figures 1, 2 and 5) for securing a cable to a support, the clamp comprising:
a first section (first retention section 16 is interpreted as the first section) comprising,
a first base portion (first body portion 12 is interpreted as the first base portion) constructed from a first material (see paragraph 0041; polyamide is taught as an example of the first material), the first base portion having a pair of first projections (the projecting portion of first body portion 12 that surrounds the aperture 55, and leading end 98 are together interpreted as the pair of first projections),
a first bushing (first insert portion 24 is interpreted as the first bushing) fixed to the first base portion and spaced apart from either projection of the pair of first projections (see figure 2), the first bushing being constructed from a second material that is more compressible than the first material (for example, rubber, see paragraph 0040), the first bushing including a pair of spaced apart angular portions (the left-half-arc of portion 24 and the right-half-arc of portion 24 are interpreted as the pair of spaced apart angular portions) that form a groove (the top half portion of aperture 40 is interpreted as the first groove),
wherein the pair of angular portions is configured to deform based on the size of the cable received within the first groove (see figures 1, 2 and 5 and paragraph 0027); and
a second section (second retention section 29 is interpreted as the second section) removable connected to the first section (see figures 1, 2 and 5; the clamp can be in a closed state, as shown in figures 1, 2 and 5, or be opened, the opening being interpreted as being removable connected from the closed state), the second section comprising,
a second base portion (second body portion 14 is interpreted as the second base portion) constructed from a third material (see paragraph 0041), the second base portion having a pair of second projections (the retaining member 54 and tongue 58 are interpreted as the pair of second projections) configured to engage with the pair of first projections (see figure 2),
a second bushing (third insert member 34 is interpreted as the second bushing) fixed to the second base portion and constructed from a fourth material that is more compressible than the third material (see paragraph 0040), the second bushing including a second groove (the bottom half portion of aperture 40 is interpreted as the second groove) aligned with the first groove (see figure 1), wherein the second bushing is configured to deform based on the size of the cable received within the second groove (see paragraph 0027).
12. The clamp of claim 11, wherein the first bushing is overmolded onto the first base portion, and wherein the second bushing is overmolded onto the second base portion (see paragraph 0023; the molding is interpreted as being overmolded).
13. The clamp of claim 11, wherein the first material and the third material are the same material (see paragraph 0041), and wherein the second material and the fourth material are the same material (see paragraph 0040).
14. The clamp of claim 11, wherein the first section further comprising a third bushing spaced apart from the first bushing and fixed to the first base portion, wherein the third bushing is constructed from a fifth material that is more compressible than the first material,
wherein the first section further comprising a third bushing (second insert portion 26 is interpreted as the third bushing) spaced apart from the first bushing and fixed to the first base portion (see figure 1), wherein the third bushing is constructed from a fifth material (see paragraph 0040) that is more compressible than the first material, and wherein the third bushing a pair of spaced apart angular portions (the left-half-arc of portion 26 and the right-half-arc of portion 26 are interpreted as the pair of spaced apart angular portions) that form a groove (the top half portion of aperture 42 is interpreted as the first groove), wherein the pair of angular portions is configured to deform based on the size of the cable received within the third groove (see figure 1 and paragraph 0027).
15. The clamp of claim 11, wherein the first pair of projections are configured to engage the second pair of projections with a snap fit, friction fit, press fit (see figures 1 and 2, all of these are met).
16. A clamp (clamp 10 is interpreted as the clamp; see figures 1, 2 and 5) for securing a pair of cables to a support, the clamp comprising:
a first section (first retention section 16 is interpreted as the first section) comprising,
(first body portion 12 is interpreted as the first base portion) constructed from a first material (see paragraph 0041; polyamide is taught as an example of the first material),
a first bushing (first insert portion 24 is interpreted as the first bushing) fixed to the first base portion (see paragraph 0023 and figures 1, 2 and 5) and constructed from a second material (for example, rubber, see paragraph 0040) that is more compressible than the first material (see paragraph 0040), the first bushing including a first groove (the top half portion of aperture 40 is interpreted as the first groove) that is configured to deform based on the size of a first cable of the pair of cables received within the first groove (see paragraph 0027), and
a second bushing (second insert portion 26 is interpreted as the second bushing) fixed to the first base portion (see figure 1) and constructed from a second material (see paragraph 0040) that is more compressible than the first material, the second bushing being spaced apart from the first bushing (see figures 1 and 2), the second busing including a second groove (the top half portion of aperture 42 is interpreted as the second groove) that is configured to deform based on the size of a second cable of the pair of cables received within the second groove (see paragraph 0027); and
a second section (second retention section 29 is interpreted as the second section) removable connected to the first section (see figures 1, 2 and 5; the clamp can be in a closed state, as shown in figures 1, 2 and 5, or be opened, the opening being interpreted as being removable connected from the closed state), the second section comprising,
a second base portion (second body portion 14 is interpreted as the second base portion) constructed from a third material (see paragraph 0041),
a third bushing (third insert member 34 is interpreted as the third bushing) fixed to the second base portion and constructed from a fourth material that is more compressible than the third material (see paragraph 0040), the third bushing including a third groove (the bottom half portion of aperture 40 is interpreted as the third groove) aligned with the first groove and a fourth groove (the bottom half portion of aperture 42 is interpreted as the fourth groove) aligned with the second groove, wherein the third groove and/or the fourth groove are configured to deform based on the size of the pair of cables (see paragraph 0027).
17. The clamp of claim 16, wherein the first bushing and the second bushing are overmolded onto the first base portion, and wherein the third bushing is overmolded onto the second base portion (see paragraph 0023; the molding is interpreted as being overmolded).
18. The clamp of claim 16, wherein the first material and the third material are the same material, and wherein the second material and the fourth material are the same material (see paragraph 0040 and 0041).
19. The clamp of claim 16, wherein the first bushing includes a pair of angled portions (the left and right half portions of the first bushing are interpreted as the pair of angled portions) forming either side of the first groove, wherein the pair of angled portions are configured to move relative to one another when the first cable is received within the first groove (see figures 1, 2, and 5 and paragraph 0027).
20. The clamp of claim 16, wherein the first groove includes at least one first projection (splines 44 are interpreted as the first projection), the at least one first projection is configured to deform based on the size of the first cable received within the first groove (see paragraph 0027).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOHN M BEDTELYON whose telephone number is (571)270-1290. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00am - 4:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Uyen-Chau Le can be reached at 571-272-2397. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/John Bedtelyon/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2874
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