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 1-6, 8, 10 and 20-22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kollmann et al. (US 9,525,219).
Regarding claim 1, Kollmann discloses a lead terminal comprising: at least one spring-loaded clamping connection (1, Fig. 1) for connecting an electrical conductor by spring force, the spring-loaded clamping connection comprising: a clamping spring (2); and a busbar section (8, 6) associated with the clamping spring, between which a clamping point (12/13) for connecting the electrical conductor is formed; and a swivelable actuating lever (24) associated with the spring-loaded clamping connection to actuate the clamping spring, the actuating lever having at least one support element that includes a support surface (24a) facing the busbar section, via which the actuating lever is supported on a support region (above 10 in Fig. 4) of the busbar section, wherein the support region of the busbar section is formed as a depression (see Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5) in the busbar section, that is recessed from neighboring flat regions of the busbar section, the depression being a trough or channel depression; the busbar section having a clamping edge (13) for connecting the electrical conductor, and wherein the clamping edge of the busbar section is a border edge (13) of a second depression (sideways of the first depression, between 10 and 13 in Fig. 2) that is impressed in the busbar section (manufacturing method).
Regarding claim 2, Kollmann discloses a depth of the depression in the busbar section, that forms the support region, is formed in relation to the clamping point (13) formed at the busbar section.
Regarding claim 3, Kollmann discloses the depression in the busbar section, that forms the support region, having a depth that is at least 20% of a material thickness of the busbar section (see Figs. 4 and 5).
Regarding claim 4, Kollmann discloses the lead terminal designed as a multi-pole lead terminal in which multiple spring-loaded clamping connections are situated next to one another (Fig. 3), wherein the spring-loaded clamping connections each have a clamping spring and a busbar section associated with the clamping spring, wherein an actuating lever is associated with each spring-loaded clamping connection, wherein the busbar sections are parts of a continuous busbar, and wherein the support region formed as the depression in the busbar section extends continuously from the support element of the actuating lever at least to a support element of a directly neighboring actuating lever or extends continuously over the busbar sections of multiple or all spring-loaded clamping connections.
Regarding claim 5, Kollmann discloses the support region formed as the depression in the busbar section being at least partially interrupted, at least at one clamping point, by another contour or a clamping contour (left or right in Fig. 1).
Regarding claim 6, Kollmann discloses the actuating lever in the support region formed as the depression in the busbar section, the actuating lever being swivelable about a rotational axis that extends transversely with respect to a conductor insertion direction of the spring-loaded clamping connection (Figs. 4 and 5).
Regarding claim 8, Kollmann discloses that in a conductor insertion direction, the clamping edge of the busbar section is arranged next to or behind the support region formed as the depression in the busbar section (Fig. 3).
Regarding claim 10, Kollmann discloses a length of the second depression that is impressed in the busbar section, when viewed in a conductor insertion direction, is smaller than a length of the support region formed as the depression in the busbar section (Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 20, Kollmann discloses the support region of the busbar section having a concavely curved contour (Fig. 1).
Regarding claim 21, Kollmann discloses the concavely curved contour of the support region adapted to a convexly curved contour of the support surface of the actuating lever (Fig. 1).
Regarding claim 22, Kollmann discloses the depression that forms the support region in the busbar section, on at least one side, merges in a stepped manner into a neighboring elevated region of the busbar section and/or, on at least one side, merges in a stepless manner into a neighboring elevated region of the busbar section (left side of 10 in Fig. 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.
Claims 11-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kollmann ‘219 in view of Kollmann et al. (US 9,466,895).
Regarding claim 11, Kollmann ‘895 teaches the at least one support element of the actuating lever (3) having two spaced-apart support elements (28) arranged in parallel, each of which has the support surface facing the busbar section via which the actuating lever is supported on the support region of the busbar section. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the invention was effectively filed to use tow space apart support elements, as taught by Kollmann ‘895, in order to provide a stable support for the actuating lever.
Regarding claim 12, Kollmann ‘219 discloses the support region formed as the depression in the busbar section extending continuously from one of the two support element of the actuating lever at least to a nearest support element of a directly neighboring actuating lever (Fig. 3).
Regarding claim 13, Kollmann ‘895 teaches a receiving space for accommodating the electrical conductor connected to the spring-loaded clamping connection formed between the two support elements of the actuating lever (see Figs. 3 and 4).
Regarding claim 14, Kollmann ‘895 teaches at least a portion of the clamping spring or a predominant portion of a clamping leg of the clamping spring arranged in a region between the two support elements of the actuating lever (Figs. 3 and 4).
Regarding claim 15, Kollmann ‘895 teaches the actuating lever has two spaced-apart side wall sections (7) that are at least partially inserted into a housing (2) of the lead terminal and that are each connected to one of the two support elements via a transverse web (8).
Regarding claim 16, Kollmann ‘895 teaches the two support elements forming a rotational axis about which the actuating lever is swivelably supported in the housing, wherein the two support elements each have an actuation sections (24), each of which is designed for impinging on an associated clamping spring of the spring-loaded clamping connection when the actuating lever swivels from a closed position, in which the actuating lever with the transverse web is swiveled toward the housing, and the clamping point (20) formed by the spring-loaded clamping connection is closed to connect the electrical conductor into an open position (Fig. 2) in which the actuating lever with the transverse web is swiveled away from the housing, and the clamping point formed by the spring-loaded clamping connection is opened for connecting the electrical conductor.
Regarding claim 17, Kollmann ‘895 teaches the actuation sections at the two support elements spaced less farther apart from one another than a distance between the side wall sections, and wherein the actuation sections extend in parallel to the side wall sections and are integrally formed with the side wall sections such that at least one guide slot (30) is present between each respective actuation section and the associated directly neighboring side wall section (Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 18, Kollmann ‘895 teaches a guide web (29) of the housing inserted into an associated guide slot in order to guide the actuating lever during a swivel movement about the rotational axis in a swivel bearing region.
Regarding claim 19, Kollmann ‘895 teaches the actuation sections having a partially circular outer circumference with a cutout forming a shoulder, wherein the clamping spring (19) has an actuating tab (ends of 19, Fig. 4), and wherein the actuating tab of the clamping spring rests on the shoulder when the actuating lever is swiveled to open the clamping point (Figs. 2 and 3).
Double Patenting
The Terminal Disclaimer has been approved.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 2/24/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Please note that Kollmann discloses the busbar section having a clamping edge (13) for connecting the electrical conductor, and wherein the clamping edge of the busbar section is a border edge (13) of a second depression (sideways of the first depression, between 10 and 13 in Fig. 2) that is impressed in the busbar section (manufacturing method).
In response to Applicant's arguments regarding claim 10, please note that the area (above 10 in Fig. 4) defines a channel depression that is recess (below) from neigboring flat regions (at 6).
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 FELIX O FIGUEROA whose telephone number is (571)272-2003. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am-6pm.
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, Renee Luebke can be reached at (571)727-2009.
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.
/FELIX O FIGUEROA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2833
Prosecution Insights