Notice of 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 .
Specification
A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed, providing informative value in classifying and searching.
The following title is suggested: See MPEP § 606.01.
POWER LINE BREAK AWAY DISCONNECT FUSE MEMBER WITHIN A COVER
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference character “34” has been used to designate both “clamp pressure mount” and “clamp assembly”.
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the;
“disconnect assembly” and “insulating member” must be shown or the feature cancelled from claims 1 and 3;
“fixed assembly” must be shown or the feature cancelled from claims 1, 7, 11 and 13;
“mounting member” must be shown or the feature cancelled from claims 2, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 14;
“spring member” must be shown or the feature cancelled from claims 4 and 16;
“clamp member” must be shown or the feature cancelled from claims 2, 5 and 17;
“seat member” must be shown or the feature cancelled from claims 5, 6, 8-10, 17 and 18;
“block member” must be shown or the feature cancelled from claims 5 and 17;
“the closed center portion” must be shown or the feature cancelled from claim 9;
“the legs” must be shown or the feature cancelled from claim 9;
“a separable assembly” must be shown or the feature cancelled from claims 7 and 11;
“clamp bars” must be shown or the feature cancelled from claim 14;
See MPEP § 608.02(d)
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in response to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application.
No new matter should be entered in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(e).
If the changes are not accepted by the Examiner, the Applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112(a)
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
Claim 19 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. §112(a), as failing to comply with the enablement requirement The claim contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to enable one skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to choose the material intended for the invention.
There is no guidance as to what “fireproof plastic” material is required of claim 19. Specific fire ratings are typically used to denote the degree to which a material resists heat or retards flames and no such understanding has been put forth in the disclosure.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 (b)
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. §112(b):
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. §112(b) as being indefinite because claim 1, from which claim 2 depends, provides antecedent basis for a “clamp assembly” where claim 2 goes onto further define the “clamp assembly” with “a clamp assembly”, thereby providing antecedent basis for two distinct clamp assemblies.
For examination purpose, the second clamp assembly will not be addressed in the rejection below.
Claims 4 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. §112(b) because “said spring member” lacks antecedent basis.
Claims 5 and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. §112(b) because “said clamp member” lacks antecedent basis.
Claim 9 rejected under 35 U.S.C. §112(b) because “the distal ends” and “said legs” lack antecedent basis.
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 of this title, 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 1- 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. §103 as being unpatentable over Murdock (US 4,326,184) in view of Kim Yong Jun (KR 2021 003 2097) [Translation attached].
With respect to Claims 1 and 3; Murdock [Fig. 1] shows a disconnecting electrical connector apparatus comprising a cylindrical fuse member 11 with electrically conductible blades 24, 37 extending outwardly from each end of the fuse member 11, a fixed assembly [at 8] mounted to one end of the fuse member [Figs. 4, 5] for connection to an electrical meter line [Col. 3, lines 27-31], a disconnect assembly [at 5] mounted to the other end of the connector apparatus, the disconnect assembly including a clamp assembly 22 which holds the other end of the fuse blade member 11 until a specific force is placed upon the disconnect assembly [Col. 5, lines 18-23].
However Murdock does not show
Kim Yong Jun [Figs. 1-3] shows an analogous disconnecting electrical connector apparatus comprising a cylindrical fuse member 50 with an insulated 100 closable 200 casing holding the cylindrical fuse member and disconnect assembly [Fig. 3].
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the disconnecting electrical connector apparatus of Murdock to further include an insulated closable casing holding the fuse member and disconnect assembly as shown by Kim Yong Jun in order to protect both the switch and end user from hazardous electrical shocks.
With respect to Claim 2; Murdock [Fig. 2] shows the clamp assembly 22 comprises a mounting member 5, 22a/b mounted to the mounting member to hold a fuse blade bar 24 therebetween under predetermined force and means 12 to connect the mounting member to an outside electrical line [Col. 2, lines 42-46].
With respect to Claim 4; Murdock [Fig. 2] shows [[the]] a spring member comprises two opposed metal plates 23a/b which engage and hold an end blade member 24 under a predetermined force.
With respect to Claim 5; Murdock [Fig. 2] shows the clamp member 22a/b is mounted on a seat member which is engaged and held on a block member by a nut 7 and bolt 6.
With respect to Claim 6; Murdock [Fig. 2] shows the seat member has an L shaped body defining a throughgoing aperture [unmarked].
With respect to Claims 7-19; the limitations contained therein, which have been disclosed and supported without ambiguity, have been fully addressed within claims 1-6 above albeit differing dependency, the device in and itself has been addressed; where
Murdock is modified by Kim Yong Jun to include an insulated closable casing holding the cylindrical fuse member and disconnect assembly as discussed in Claims 1 and 3. Kim Yong Jun further shows insulated container having opening means 210 allowing access to the members and assemblies as stated in Claim 13.
Murdock discloses a fuse member but does not state the amperage. Applicant is advised that a recitation of the intended use of an invention must result in a structural difference between the claimed invention and the prior art in order to patentably distinguish the claimed invention from the prior art.
Conclusion
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/VANESSA GIRARDI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2833