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 § 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 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Shibano (4,660,920).
Regarding claim 1, Shibano discloses an electrical connector (10, Fig. 2), comprising:
an insulating body (12, Fig. 2) defining a first receiving space (22, Fig. 4), a first mating port (32, Fig. 4) and a second mating port (34, Fig. 4); both the first mating port and the second mating port communicating with the first receiving space; the insulating body comprising a first wall portion (48 (of a top row), Fig. 5A) and a second wall portion (another 48 (of a bottom row), Fig. 5A); the first wall portion defining a plurality of first grooves (42, Figs. 2 and 5A); the second wall portion defining a plurality of second grooves (46, Figs. 2 and 5A); the plurality of first grooves and the plurality of second grooves communicating with the first receiving space (Fig. 4); the plurality of first grooves being located adjacent to the first mating port (Fig. 4); the plurality of second grooves being located adjacent to the second mating port (Fig. 4); and
a first terminal module (14, Figs. 2 and 4) at least partially installed in the first receiving space; the first terminal module comprising a plurality of first terminals; each first terminal comprising a first main body (70, Fig. 6), a first elastic arm (78, Fig. 6) extending from one end of the first main body, and a second elastic arm (another 78, Fig. 6) extending from another end of the first main body; the first elastic arm at least partially extending into a corresponding first groove (Figs. 2 and 4) to be positioned by the corresponding first groove; the second elastic arm at least partially extending into a corresponding second groove (Figs. 2 and 4) to be positioned by the corresponding second groove.
Regarding claim 2, Fig. 4 shows the first elastic arm comprises a first connecting portion (pointed at 14) connected to the first main body, a first mating portion (pointed at 78) connected to the first connecting portion, and a first extension portion (74) connected to the first mating portion; the second elastic arm (16) comprises a second connecting portion (not labeled) connected to the first main body, a second mating portion (not labeled) connected to the first connecting portion, and a second extension portion (74) connected to the second mating portion; the first extension portion at least partially extends into the corresponding first groove; the second extension portion at least partially extends into the corresponding second groove.
Regarding claim 3, Fig. 4 shows the first wall portion comprises a first surface (52), Fig. 5A) of through which the plurality of first grooves extend; the second wall portion comprises a second surface (another 52, Fig. 5A) through which the plurality of second grooves extend; both the first surface and the second surface are exposed to the first receiving space (22); and the first surface and the second surface are disposed opposite to each other.
Regarding claim 4, the first wall portion comprises a first bottom surface (54, Fig. 4) located at a bottom of the corresponding first groove; the second wall portion comprises a second bottom surface (another 54, Fig. 4) located at a bottom of the corresponding second groove; both the first bottom surface and the second bottom surface are inclined relative to a middle plane (a horizontal direction of the body) of the insulating body; both the first surface and the second surface are perpendicular to the middle plane; the first extension portion at least partially extends into the corresponding first groove obliquely relative to the middle plane; and the second extension portion at least partially extends into the corresponding second groove obliquely relative to the middle plane.
Regarding claim 5, a first plate portion (52 of the top row, Fig. 5A) is formed between two adjacent first grooves (42, Fig. 2); a second plate portion (another 52 of the bottom row, Fig. 5A) is formed between two adjacent second grooves; the first wall portion comprises a first protruding portion (50 of the top row, Fig. 5A) extending beyond the corresponding first groove from the first plate portion and a second protruding portion (50 of the bottom row) extending beyond the corresponding second groove (46) from the second plate portion; the first surface is located on the first protruding portion; and the second surface is located on the second protruding portion.
Claims 1-2, 6-9, 11-13, 16-17 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Chen et al. (10,651,585).
Regarding claim 1, Chen et al. disclose an electrical connector (100, Fig. 3), comprising:
an insulating body (1, Fig. 3) defining a first receiving space (101, Fig. 4), a first mating port (a FIGURE A below), from Fig. 3) and a second mating port (the FIGUE A below); both the first mating port and the second mating port communicating with the first receiving space; the insulating body comprising a first wall portion (the FIGUR A below) and a second wall portion (the FIGURE A below); the first wall portion defining a plurality of first grooves (1131); the second wall portion defining a plurality of second grooves (not labeled); the plurality of first grooves and the plurality of second grooves communicating with the first receiving space; the plurality of first grooves being located adjacent to the first mating port; the plurality of second grooves being located adjacent to the second mating port; and
a first terminal module (2 and 3, Fig. 3) at least partially installed in the first receiving space (Fig. 1); the first terminal module comprising a plurality of first terminals (2, Fig. 6); each first terminal comprising a first main body (21, Fig. 6), a first elastic arm (22, Fig. 6) extending from one end of the first main body, and a second elastic arm (another 22, Fig. 6) extending from another end of the first main body; the first elastic arm at least partially extending into a corresponding first groove (Fig. 1) to be positioned by the corresponding first groove; the second elastic arm at least partially extending into a corresponding second groove (Fig. 1) to be positioned by the corresponding second groove.
PNG
media_image1.png
354
327
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 2, Fig. 10 shows the first elastic arm comprises a first connecting portion connected to the first main body, a first mating portion (23) connected to the first connecting portion, and a first extension portion (a free end) connected to the first mating portion; the second elastic arm comprises a second connecting portion (not labeled) connected to the first main body, a second mating portion (not labeled) connected to the first connecting portion, and a second extension portion (not labeled) connected to the second mating portion; the first extension portion at least partially extends into the corresponding first groove; the second extension portion at least partially extends into the corresponding second groove (Fig. 1).
Regarding claim 6, Fig. 3 shows the insulating body comprises a top wall portion (the FIGURE A above); the top wall portion defining a first opening communicating with the first receiving space; the first opening is configured to install the first terminal module into the first receiving space; an opening direction of the first opening is different from opening directions the first mating port and the second mating port.
Regarding claim 7, the opening direction of the first mating port extends along a first direction; the opening direction of the second mating port extends along a direction opposite to the first direction; the opening direction of the first opening extends along a second direction (a vertical direction) which is parallel to a thickness direction of the insulating body; and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.
Regarding claim 8, Fig. 3 shows the top wall portion comprises a first wall surface (pointed at 101) through which and the first opening extends; the top wall portion comprises the first wall portion and the second wall portion; and the first opening is located between the first wall portion and the second wall portion.
Regarding claim 9, Fig. 3 shows the corresponding first groove (1131) has a first notch; the corresponding second groove has a second notch (not labeled); both the first notch and the second notch communicate with the first opening; the first notch is configured for the first extension portion to be installed in the corresponding first groove; and the second notch is configured for the second extension portion to be installed in the corresponding second groove (Fig. 1).
Regarding claims 11 and 19, an electrical connector, comprising:
an insulating body (1, Fig. 3) defining a first receiving space (101), a first mating port (a FIGURE A above, from Fig. 3) extending through the insulating body along a first direction, and a second mating port (the FIGURE A above) extending through the insulating body along a direction opposite to the first direction; the first mating port and the second mating port being configured to receive a first mating module (a circuit board, not shown) and a second mating module (another circuit board, not shown), respectively, along opposite directions; the insulating body comprising a first wall portion (the FIGURE A above) and a second wall portion (the FIGURE A above) which are located on a same side (a top side) of the insulating body; the first wall portion defining a plurality of first grooves (1131, Fig. 3) communicating with the first receiving space; the second wall portion defining a plurality of second grooves (not labeled) communicating with the first receiving space; the plurality of first grooves being disposed at intervals along a third direction (the horizontal direction); the plurality of second grooves being disposed at intervals along a fourth direction parallel to the third direction; and
a first terminal module (2 and 3, Fig. 3) at least partially installed in the first receiving space along a second direction (a vertical direction) perpendicular to the first direction; the third direction being perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; the first terminal module comprising a plurality of first terminals (20, Fig. 6); each first terminal comprising a first main body (21), a first elastic arm (22) and a second elastic arm (not labeled); the first elastic arm and the second elastic arm extend along opposite directions from the first main body; a distal end (23) of the first elastic arm at least partially extending into a corresponding first groove to be positioned by the corresponding first groove (Fig. 1); a distal end of the second elastic arm at least partially extending into a corresponding second groove to be positioned by the corresponding second groove (Fig. 1).
Regarding claim 12, Fig. 10 shows the first elastic arm comprises a first connecting portion (one end of 22) connected to the first main body, a first mating portion (23) connected to the first connecting portion, and a first extension portion (a distal end of 23) connected to the first mating portion; the distal end of the first elastic arm is formed on the first extension portion; and wherein the second elastic arm comprises a second connecting portion (not labeled) connected to the first main body, a second mating portion (not labeled) connected to the first connecting portion, and a second extension portion (not labeled) connected to the second mating portion; the distal end of the second elastic arm is formed on the second extension portion.
Regarding claim 13, the FIGURE A above the first wall portion comprises a first surface through which the plurality of first grooves extend; the second wall portion comprises a second surface through which the plurality of second grooves extend; both the first surface and the second surface are exposed to the first receiving space; and the first surface and the second surface are disposed opposite to each other along the first direction.
Regarding claim 16, the insulating body comprises a top wall portion (the FIGURE A above); the top wall portion defining a first opening communicating with the first receiving space; the first opening extends through the top wall portion along the third direction; the first opening is configured to install the first terminal module into the first receiving space (Fig. 1).
Regarding claim 17, Fig. 3 shows the top wall portion comprises a first wall surface (pointed at 101) through which and the first opening extends; the top wall portion comprises the first wall portion and the second wall portion; and the first opening is located between the first wall portion and the second wall portion.
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 10, 18 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen et al. in view of Hu et al. (8,777,669).
Regarding claims 10, 18 and 20, Chen et al. disclose the claimed invention as described above except for a first cover plate covering the first opening; the first cover plate being connected with the insulating body; and the first cover plate at least partially covering the first terminal module.
Hu et al., Figs. 1 and 2 show a cover plate (20) covering the first opening; the cover plate being connected with the insulating body (10); and the first cover plate at least partially covering the first terminal module (30). It would have been obvious to modify Chen et al.to have a first cover plate covering the first opening; the first cover plate being connected with the insulating body; and the first cover plate at least partially covering the first terminal module, as taught by Hu et al. in order to protect the connector.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 14-15 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
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 0AM-6PM.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
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.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/THANH TAM T LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831 02/19/26
thanh-tam.le@uspto.gov