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 .
35 USC 102 Rejections
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 and 5-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Wollitzer et al
9590345.
Regarding claim 1, Wollitzer et al (Figure 7) discloses a board-to-board interface contactor,
comprising: a contactor base body, the contactor body base comprising a peripheral seat 8 and an
aperture (which receives pin 4); an elastic and conductive lid 9 positioned over the peripheral seat of
the contactor base body; and a conductive pin 4 extending through the aperture in the contactor base
body.
Regarding claim 5, Wollitzer et al discloses the contactor base body further comprises a body
pedestal 3 having an outer cylindrical surface; and the aperture extends through the body pedestal.
Regarding claim 6, Wollitzer et al discloses the elastic and conductive lid 9 comprises a bottom
surface, a central opening, and an inner cylindrical surface within the central opening; the bottom
surface of the elastic and conductive lid contacts an upper seat surface of the peripheral seat 8; and the
inner cylindrical surface of the elastic and conductive lid contacts the outer cylindrical surface of the
body pedestal 3.
Regarding claim 7, Wollitzer et al discloses the conductive pin 4,5 comprises a compressible
plunger pin.
Claims Defining Over Prior Art
Claims 8-21 are allowed.
Claims 2-4 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: none of the prior art discloses or teaches the wave spring positioned over the insulating interposer and within the shield body; in combination with the rest of the subject matter of the respective independent claim.
Response To Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed May 15, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Wollitzer et al clearly discloses peripheral seat 8 and conductive lid 9.
Finality
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 GARY F PAUMEN whose telephone number is (571)272-2013. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th.
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/GARY F PAUMEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834