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 14, line 9, “a bottom wall” should be --the bottom wall--;
Claim 14, line 12, “a top wall” should be --the top wall--;
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, 4, 7-14 and 16-24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Matsuura et al. (2011/0136387).
Regarding claim 1, Matsuura et al. disclose a connector comprising:
a housing (11, Fig. 5) defining:
a receiving channel (12, Fig. 5) defined by two first side walls (FIGURE A below) extending from a bottom wall (FIGURE A below) of the receiving channel, and two second sidewalls (FIGURE A below) extending from a top wall (FIGURE A below) of the receiving channel;
a first stopper (FIGURE A below) defined on protruding from the bottom wall of the receiving channel, the first stopper arranged between and separated from the first two sidewalls; and
a second stopper (FIGURE A below) defined on protruding from the top wall of the receiving channel, the second stopper arranged between and separated from the second two sidewalls; and
a terminal (51, Fig. 5) arranged in the receiving channel (Fig. 7A) and having a first end (52a, Fig. 5) connected to a wire (251, Fig. 3B), and a second end (56, Fig. 5) including a first elastic arm (54) and a second elastic arm (another 54) extending obliquely towards each other and adapted to be connected to a mating terminal (151, Fig. 1), the first stopper aligned with the first elastic arm (Fig. 7A) and the second stopper aligned with the second elastic arm such that a free end (55, Fig. 5) of the first elastic arm and a free end (another 55) of the second elastic arm abut against a respective one of the first stopper and the second stopper (FIGURE B below) when the wire is subject to an external force and preventing the second end of the terminal from disengaging from the mating terminal when the wire is subjected to the external force.
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Regarding claim 4, Fig. 5 shows the first end of the terminal defines a cylindrical shape accommodating the wire.
Regarding claim 7, Fig. 5 and FIGURE A above show each of the first side walls and corresponding ones of the second side walls are aligned with and spaced apart from each other.
Regarding claim 8, Fig. 5 and FIGURE A above each of the first side walls protrudes from the bottom wall towards a corresponding one of the second side walls beyond the first stopper, and each of the second side walls protrudes from the top wall towards a corresponding one of the first side walls beyond the second stopper.
Regarding claim 9, the mating terminal is defined on a printed circuit board (101, Fig. 1) inserted between the first side walls and the second side walls (Fig. 7C).
Regarding claim 10, Fig. 7D shows the free ends of each of the first and second elastic arms comprises an arc-shaped portion abutting against the mating terminal after the printed circuit board is inserted between the first side walls and the second side walls.
Regarding claim 11, each of the first and second stoppers is formed as a strip (Fig. 5 and FIGURE A above) extending longitudinally along the receiving channel, a tip of each of the free ends abuts against the strip to maintain contact between the free ends and the mating terminal (FIGURE B above) when the wire is subjected to the external force.
Regarding claim 12, the receiving channel further defines a limiter (back wall of 13, Fig. 7B) connected between one of the first side walls and corresponding one of the second side walls, the limiter limiting a distance which a printed circuit board (101, Fig. 7D) is inserted into the housing.
Regarding claim 13, Fig. 5 and 7A show corresponding the limiter and the corresponding first and second side walls define a C-shape.
Regarding claim 14, a connector, comprising:
a housing (11, Fig. 5) defining:
a plurality of receiving channels (14), each receiving channel defined by two first side walls (FIGURE A above) extending upwardly from a bottom wall (FIUGRE A above) of the housing and two second side walls (FIGURE A above) extending downwardly from a top wall (FIGURE A above) of the housing;
a limiter (a back wall of 13, Fig. 7A) connected between one of the first side walls and a corresponding one of the second side walls; and
a stopper (FIGURE A above) formed in each of the receiving channels, each stopper including:
a first stopper (FIUGRE A above) protruding from the bottom wall of the receiving channel and spaced apart from each of the first two side walls in a lateral direction of the receiving channel; and
a second stopper (FIGURE A above) protruding from the top wall of the receiving channel and spaced apart from each of the second two side walls in the lateral direction of the receiving channel; and
a plurality of terminals (51, Fig. 5) arranged in respective ones of the plurality of receiving channels (Fig. 7A), each terminal having a first end (52a, Fig. 5) adapted to be connected to a wire (251, Fig. 3B), and a second end (56, Fig. 5) adapted to be connected to a mating terminal (151, Fig. 1) of a printed circuit board (101), each stopper opposing the second end of a respective one of plurality of terminals and adapted to prevent the second end of the terminal from disengaging from the mating terminal when the wire is subjected to an external force, wherein the limiter is adapted to abut the printed circuit board for limiting a distance which the printed circuit board is inserted into the housing.
Regarding claim 16, the second end of the terminal includes first and second elastic arms (54, Fig. 5) extending obliquely towards each other, the first stopper is aligned with the first elastic arm, and the second stopper is aligned with the second elastic arm (FIGURE B above).
Regarding claim 17, FIGURE A above shows the two first side walls are arranged on opposite sides of the first stopper on the bottom wall; and the two second side walls are arranged on opposite sides of the second stopper on the top wall.
Regarding claim 18, FIGURE A above shows each of the first side walls and corresponding ones of the second side walls are aligned with and spaced apart from each other, the corresponding first side walls and the second side walls defining an opening adapted to receive the printed circuit board defining the mating terminal.
Regarding claim 19, FIGURE A above shows each of the first side walls protrudes from the bottom wall towards a corresponding one of the second side walls beyond the first stopper, and each of the second side walls protrudes from the top wall towards a corresponding one of the first side walls beyond the second stopper.
Regarding claim 20, each of the first and second stoppers is formed as a strip extending longitudinally along the receiving channel (Fig. 5 and FIGURE A above), a tip (55, Fig. 5) of each of the first and second elastic arms of the terminal abuts against the strip (Fig. 5 and FIUGRE B above) to maintain the elastic arms in contact with the mating terminal when the wire is subjected to the external force.
Regarding claim 21, a connector, comprising:
a housing (11, Fig. 5) defining:
a plurality of receiving channels (14, Fig. 5);
a plurality of first stoppers (FIGURE A above), each first stopper protruding upwardly into a respective one of the plurality of receiving channels from a bottom wall (FIUGRE A above) of the housing and arranged between and separated from two first sidewalls (FIGURE A above) of the receiving channel positioned on opposite sides the first stopper; and
a plurality of second stoppers (FIUGRE A above), each second stopper protruding downwardly into a respective one of the plurality of receiving channels from a top wall (FIGURE A above) of the housing and arranged between and separated from two second sidewalls (FIGURE A above) of the receiving channel positioned on opposite sides the second stopper; and
a plurality of terminals (51, Fig. 5) arranged in respective ones of the plurality of receiving channels, each terminal having:
a first end (52a, Fig. 5) adapted to be connected to a wire (251, Fig. 3B); and
a second end (56, Fig. 5) adapted to be connected to a mating terminal (151, Fig. 1) of a printed circuit board (101), the second end including a first elastic arm (54, Fig. 5) and a second elastic arm (another 54) extending obliquely towards each other and adapted to contact the mating terminal, a tip (55) of each of the first elastic arm and the second elastic arm adapted to abut a respective one of the first stopper and the second stopper (FIGURE B above) in response to an external force placed on the wire for preventing the second end of the terminal from disengaging from the mating terminal.
Regarding claim 22, Fig. 7D shows each of the first and second elastic arms comprises an arc-shaped portion abutting against the mating terminal after the printed circuit board is inserted between the first side walls and the second side walls, the tip defining a free end of the arc-shaped portion.
Regarding claim 23, each of the first side walls and corresponding ones of the second side walls are aligned with and spaced apart from each other (FIGURE A above); and the receiving channel further defines a limiter (a back wall of 13, Fig. 7D) connected between one of the first side walls and corresponding one of the second side walls, the limiter adapted to contact the printed circuit board for limiting a distance which the printed circuit board is inserted into the housing.
Regarding claim 24, Fig. 5 shows each of the first elastic arms and the second elastic arms has width extending in a direction normal to the protruding directions of the first and second stoppers, and a thickness in a direction parallel to the protruding directions of the first and second stoppers, wherein the width is greater than the thickness.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1, 4, 7-14 and 16-24 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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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 10/05/26
thanh-tam.le@uspto.gov
