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 .
Inventorship
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
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.
Claim(s) 1-9, 18-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kraus et al (7,252,078).
Kraus et al teaches a spark plug connector 2, comprising a connector body, having a first end portion configured to insert an end of a high-tension lead 5 or to directly contact an ignition coil 1 and a second end portion configured to receive an end of a spark plug 4, wherein an electrical wiring section configured to transmit a sparking voltage from the high-tension lead 5 or the ignition coil 1 to the spark plug 4 is arranged between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the electrical wiring section has, adjacent to the first end portion, at least one inductor 3b as an electromagnetic interference suppression element (see figures 1-4, col. 2 line 26 through col. 3 line 14, col. 4 line 26-34).
For claim 2 see figure 1.
For claim 3 see figures 2-4.
For claim 4 see figures 1-2, 4.
For claim 5 see figure 4.
For claim 6 see col. 3 line 15-34.
For claim 7 see col. 3 line 35-43.
For claim 8 see figure 4, col. 4 line 34-39.
For claim 9 see figure 1.
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.
Claim(s) 10-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kraus et al (7,252,078) in view of Valencia et al (9,169,798).
Kraus et al teaches the claimed invention as rejected in claim 1 above except for a plate. Valencia et al teaches a plate 202 (see figures 2-7). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to employ the plate on the ignition device of Kraus et al as taught by Valencia et al in order to provide support and prevent leakage.
Claims 15 and 17 are obvious matter of design choice/intended use.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Anderson et al 10,648,445 teaches a shielded spark plug connector.
Yamada et al 10,250,016 teaches an ignition system that uses a technique capable of restraining radiation of noise caused by discharge of a spark plug in the ignition system.
Tada et al 9,551,314 teaches a protector for a spark plug connector.
Katoh et al 7,387,115 teaches an ignition system has an electromagnetic noise reduction circuit.
Jefferson 7,055,482 teaches a cover for spark plug.
Hamer et al 6,437,674 teaches an ignition apparatus having built-in noise suppression.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HAI H HUYNH whose telephone number is (571)272-4844. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.
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, Lindsay M Low can be reached at 571-272-1196. 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.
/HAI H HUYNH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3747
Prosecution Insights