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 1-9 and 12-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Jinno et al. (5,238,411).
Regarding claim 1, Jinno et al. disclose a connector comprising:
a housing (2, Fig. 1) defining:
a receiving channel (13, Fig. 2); and
a stopper (10 and 16, Fig. 2) formed in the receiving channel; and
a terminal (1, Fig. 2) arranged in the receiving channel and having a first end (12, Fig. 1) connected to a wire (not labeled), and a second end (8, Fig. 2) connected to a mating terminal (3, Fig. 1), the stopper preventing the second end of the terminal from disengaging from the mating terminal when the wire is subjected to an external force.
Regarding claim 2, Fig. 2 shows the stopper includes a first stopper (10) defined on a bottom wall (17) of the receiving channel.
Regarding claim 3, Fig. 2 shows the stopper further includes a second stopper (16) defined on a top wall (pointed at 2) of the receiving channel.
Regarding claim 4, Fig. 1 shows the first end of the terminal defines a cylindrical shape accommodating the wire.
Regarding claim 5, the second end of the terminal includes first (4 and 5, Fig. 2) and second elastic arms (8 and 19, Fig. 2) 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 (Fig. 3).
Regarding claim 6, Fig. 2 shows the receiving channel further includes: two first side walls arranged on opposite sides of the first stopper on the bottom wall (side walls below (15); and two second side walls arranged on opposite sides of the second stopper on the top wall (side walls above (15), column 2, lines 63-66).
Regarding claim 7, Figs. 1 and 2 show each of the first side walls and corresponding ones of the second side walls are aligned with and spaced apart (by 15) from each other.
Regarding claim 8, Fig. 1 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 9, Fig. 2 shows the mating terminal is defined on a printed circuit board (3) inserted between the first side walls and the second side walls.
Regarding claim 12, Fig. 2 shows the receiving channel further defines a limiter (15) 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 (3) is inserted into the housing.
Regarding claim 13, Fig. 2 shows corresponding the limiter and the corresponding first and second side walls define a C-shape.
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 1-11 and 14-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kinkaid (3,656,093) in view of Fedder et al. (4,487,468).
Regarding claims 1 and 14, Kinkaid discloses a connector comprising:
a housing (H, Fig. 1) defining:
a receiving channel (1, Fig. 1); and
a terminal (EC, Fig. 1) arranged in the receiving channel (Fig. 2) and having a first end (6, Fig. 1) connected to a wire (not labeled), and a second end (11, Fig. 1) connected to a mating terminal (not shown).
Kinkaid discloses the claimed invention as described above except for a stopper formed in the receiving channel.
Fedder et al., Fig. 1 shows a stopper (a FIGURE A below) formed in the receiving channel.
PNG
media_image1.png
268
333
media_image1.png
Greyscale
It would have been obvious to modify Kinkaid to have a stopper formed in the receiving channel, as taught by Fedder et al. for easier engaging.
Regarding claim 2, it is noted that Fedder et al., the FIGURE A above shows the stopper includes a first stopper defined on a bottom wall of the receiving channel.
Regarding claim 3, it is noted that Fedder et al., the FIGURE A above shows the stopper further includes a second stopper defined on a top wall of the receiving channel.
Regarding claim 4, Kinkaid, Fig. 1 shows the first end of the terminal defines a cylindrical shape accommodating the wire.
Regarding claims 5 and 15, Kinkaid, Fig. 1 shows the second end of the terminal includes first and second elastic arms (11) 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.
Regarding claim 6, it is noted that Fedder et al., Fig. 1 shows the receiving channel further includes: two first side walls (pointed at 18) arranged on opposite sides of the first stopper on the bottom wall; and
two second side walls (not labeled) arranged on opposite sides of the second stopper on the top wall.
Regarding claim 16, it is noted that Fedder et al., the FIGURE A above shows the stopper includes a first stopper defined on a bottom wall of the receiving channel; and a second stopper defined on a top wall of the receiving channel.
Regarding claim 17, it is noted that Fedder et al., Fig. 1 shows each of the receiving channels further includes: two first side walls arranged on opposite sides of the first stopper on the bottom wall; and two second side walls arranged on opposite sides of the second stopper on the top wall.
Regarding claims 7 and 18, it is noted that Fedder et al., Fig. 1 shows each of the first side walls and corresponding ones of the second side walls are aligned and spaced apart from each other.
Regarding claims 8 and 19, it is noted that Fedder et al., Fig. 1 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 9, Kinkaid, Fig. 1 shows the mating terminal is defined on a printed circuit board (not shown) inserted between the first side walls and the second side walls.
Regarding claim 10, Kinkaid, Fig. 1 shows each of the first and second elastic arms comprises an arc-shaped free end (12) abutting against the mating terminal after the printed circuit board is inserted between the first side walls and the second side walls.
Regarding claims 11 and 20, the combination of Kinkaid and Fedder et al. disclose each of the first and second stoppers is formed as a strip 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 when the wire is subjected to the external force.
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.
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, 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.
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.
/THANH TAM T LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831 02/16/26
thanh-tam.le@uspto.gov