DETAILED ACTION
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 4/15/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant’s arguments focus on the prior art’s cover (104) lacking a wall where a first and second opening with their respective first and second openings having a routing passage therebetween. However, details are scant in the claim language as to how these openings are structurally defined or their specific locations relative to other components.
While Examiner appreciates Applicant’s attention to detail, the argued features are not claimed. These features are shown in Applicant figures 22-24 with openings on opposing ends with a defined interior between them. Further, these openings are on the outermost points of a housing structure. The prior art depicts in figure 4 two openings (one at 124 and one at 138) separated by the interior of the housing (102). Therefore, Examiner believes the prior art anticipates the claims are currently presented.
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 US 2008/0131067 to Ugolini et al.
Ugolini discloses in the abstract and figures 4 and 29, an optical fiber cassette comprising:
a main body (102) comprising a pair of sidewalls extending along the length and an end wall extending along the width between the pair of sidewalls, the sidewalls and the end wall each extending along the height (figure 29);
an adapter wall positioned between the sidewalls of the main body, the adapter wall positioned along the length distal to the end wall, wherein a first operable end of the adapter wall extends from an exterior of main body, and wherein a second operable end of the adapter wall extends to an interior of the main body (figure 4 and paragraph 22 describes the adapter positioned as claimed); and
a cover (104) disposed onto the main body, wherein the cover comprises a passage wall at which a routing passage extends from a first cable opening at a first end and a second cable opening at a second end, the routing passage extending to a passthrough opening extending through the cover to a slack storage area formed at the main body (figures 3-4 and paragraphs 21-22 describe cover 104 guiding a cable 106 from a front side 122 to the interior 102).
As to claims 2-4 and 12, the walls and storage areas are arranged as claimed (figures 3-5).
As to claim 5, the routing is curved (106; figure 4).
As to claims 6 and 8, a fastening mechanism is disclosed (128, 130 and 132; paragraph 20).
As to claim 7, the passthrough opening is on an end wall (104 side of figure 2).
As to claim 9, the main body is unitary (one pull out cassette in figure 3).
As to claim 10, the connector 124 meets the limitation of a cable retention interface.
As to claim 11, the port opening (unlabeled) in figure 5 is arcuate.
Claims 13-20 appear to be duplicate claims of the above or with minor variations to the above. Therefore, the claims are rejected for the respective subject matter anticipated above.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Eric K Wong whose telephone number is (571)272-2363. The examiner can normally be reached M-Tu, Th-F 8A-6P.
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ERIC K. WONG
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2874
/Eric Wong/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2874
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