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, 14, lines 1-2, “a male terminal assembly” should be --the male terminal assembly--;
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 36-37, 45, 47, 50, 53, 55 and 60 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 36, what is a difference between “a first male terminal assembly” in line 13 and “a second male terminal assembly” in line 16 with “a male terminal assembly” in line 8?
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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 6-8, 10 13-15 and 34 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Barthelmes et al. (10,797,412).
Regarding claim 6, Barthelmes et al. disclose a connector system for use in a power distribution system of a motor vehicle, the connector system comprising:
a female connector assembly (104, Fig. 4) including:
a female housing (178, Fig. 4) having an arrangement of side walls that define a female housing receptacle (115 and 116, Fig. 3);
a female terminal assembly (108, Fig. 4) residing within the female housing receptacle of the female housing, wherein the female terminal assembly comprises a plurality of conductive side walls (180, Fig. 2) comprising an inner surface defining a female terminal receptacle, the inner surface of the plurality of conductive side walls configured to electrically and mechanically connect to a male terminal assembly (102, Fig. 3B) inserted into the female terminal receptacle (Fig. 5); and
a female interlock (FIL) assembly comprising a female interlock holder (142, Fig. 4) retaining a female interlock receiver (152, Fig. 5), wherein the female interlock holder is disposed within the female terminal receptacle of the female terminal assembly to define a fully assembled female state.
Regarding claim 7, the male terminal assembly configured to be received by the female terminal assembly (Fig. 5), wherein the FIL assembly is configured to be coupled to an interlock circuit that prevents electrical current from flowing through the female terminal assembly prior to connection of the female terminal assembly to the male terminal assembly.
Regarding claim 8, a male interlock (MIL) assembly (150, Fig. 5) configured to be received by the FIL assembly, wherein the FIL assembly is configured to be coupled to the interlock circuit that prevents electrical current from flowing through the female terminal assembly prior to connection of the FIL assembly to the male interlock (MIL) assembly and the male terminal assembly.
Regarding claim 10, a connector system for use in a power distribution system of a motor vehicle, the connector system comprising:
a female connector assembly (104, Fig. 2) including:
a female terminal assembly (108, Fig. 4) comprising a plurality of conductive side walls (180, Fig. 2) comprising an inner surface defining a female terminal receptacle, the inner surface of the plurality of conductive side walls configured to electrically and mechanically connect to a male terminal assembly (102, Fig. 5) inserted into the female terminal receptacle; and
a female interlock (FIL) assembly having a female interlock receiver (152, Fig. 5) that is positioned within the female terminal receptacle of the female terminal assembly to define a fully assembled female state, wherein the female interlock receiver of the FIL assembly resides within a female interlock holder (142, Fig. 4) that is located within the female terminal receptacle of the female terminal assembly in the fully assembled female state.
Regarding claim 13, the FIL assembly further includes a retainer (112, Fig. 4) that secures the female interlock holder and the female interlock receiver in the female terminal assembly in the fully assembled female state (Fig. 5).
Regarding claim 14, the female housing includes at least one sloped wall (182, Fig. 4) configured to compress an extent (pointed at 119, Fig. 5) of the male terminal assembly, when the male terminal assembly is inserted into the female terminal assembly.
Regarding claim 15, a female shielding assembly (112, Fig. 4) configured to be coupled to an electrical component in the power distribution system, and wherein the FIL assembly is positioned within said female shielding assembly.
Regarding claim 34, the connector system is PCTS compliant.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 36-37, 45, 47, 50, 53, 55 and 60 are allowed.
Claims 18, 28, 30 and 32 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.
Claims 36-37, 45, 47, 50, 53, 55 and 60 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 6-8, 10, 13-15 and 34 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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/THANH TAM T LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831 06/15/26
thanh-tam.le@uspto.gov
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