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 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.
Claims 1-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Foran (10,249,994).
Regarding claim 1, Foran discloses a connector assembly comprising:
two electric connectors (80 and 20, Fig. 1) that are configured to be plugged together in a plug-in direction and rotated relative to one another in a direction of rotation into a coupled state, wherein one (80) of the two electric connectors includes a contact (90, Figs. 1 and 5) and the other one (20) of the two electric connectors includes a mating contact (50, Figs. 1 and 4); and
a mechanical guiding system (82a and 23a, Fig. 1) guiding the movement of the two electric connectors relative one another in the plug-in direction and the movement of the two electric connectors relative to one another in the direction of rotation, the mechanical guiding system mechanically coupling the movement in the direction of rotation with a movement against the plug-in direction,
wherein, in the coupled state, the contact and the mating contact are pressed against each other against the plug-in direction,
wherein the contact of the one of the two connectors and the mating contact of the other one of the two connectors each comprise a contact section (93 and 53, Figs. 4 and 5), the contact section (93, Fig. 5) of the contact including two contact tongues (93a and 93b) configured to decrease a stiffness of the contact section.
Regarding claim 2, in the coupled state, the contact of the one of the two connectors is located along the plug-in direction between the mating contact of the other one of the two connectors and a housing of the other one of the two connectors.
Regarding claim 3, in the coupled state, the contact (50, Fig. 4) of the one of the two connectors is located in a pocket (93, Fig. 5) of the other one (90, Fig. 5) of the two connectors.
Regarding claim 4, the connector assembly comprises an unplugged state and an intermediate state, wherein the two connectors are configured to be moved towards each other from the unplugged state to the intermediate state in the plug-in direction and from the intermediate state to the coupled state in the direction of rotation, wherein, during the movement from the unplugged state to the intermediate state, the contact of the one of the two connectors and the mating contact of the other one of the two connectors do not overlap each other in the plug-in direction.
Regarding claim 5, Fig. 1 shows the direction of rotation is directed around the plug-in direction.
Regarding claim 6, the mechanical guiding system comprises a first section (82, Fig. 1) and a second section (82a), the first section being configured to guide the one of the two connectors relative to the other one of the two connectors in the plug-in direction, the second section being configured to guide the one of the two connectors relative to the other one of the two connectors in the direction of rotation and against the plug-in direction.
Regarding claim 7, the mechanical guiding system comprises a guiding groove (82a, Fig. 1) and a guiding protrusion (23a) that is configured complementary to the guiding slot and configured to slidingly fit into the guiding slot, the guiding slot and the guiding protrusion each being located on a different connector of the two connectors.
Regarding claim 8, the guiding groove comprises a helical section that extends at least sectionwise helically around the plug-in direction.
Regarding claim 9, Fig. 1 shows a lead of the helical section is smaller at a first location in the helical section than at a second location in the helical section, the second location being spaced apart from the first location in the direction of rotation.
Regarding claim 10, Fig. 1 shows the one (20) of the two connectors comprises an outer wall (23b) and an inner wall (27b), the outer wall being spaced apart from and at least sectionwise surrounding the inner wall, the mechanical guiding system being arranged on the outer wall, the inner wall being sealingly engaged by the other one of the two connectors.
Regarding claim 11, the contact of the one of the two connectors and the mating contact of the other one of the two connectors each comprise the contact section (92 and 53), the contact section of the contact being configured to contact the contact section of the mating contact in the coupled state, the contact section of the contact and the contact section of the mating contact each extending in plane that is perpendicular to the plug-in direction and parallel to the direction of rotation.
Regarding claim 12, Fig. 1 shows the contact (90) of one (80) of the two connectors is attached to a support structure (85), forming a unit that is attached to a housing (81) of the one of the two connectors.
Regarding claims 13-15, the features in the method claims are identical to those in the apparatus claims. Therefore, the method for coupling two electric connectors of a connector assembly alone is not a patentable feature.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-15 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
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 THANH TAM T LE whose telephone number is (571)272-2094. The examiner can normally be reached 9AM-6PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Abdul Riyami can be reached at 571-270-3119. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/THANH TAM T LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831 05/15/26
thanh-tam.le@uspto.gov
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