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 2, line 2, “each include” should be --each includes--;
Claim 5, line 1, “flanged spacers” should be --flange spacers--;
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 1-3, 17-18 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Johnson (6,176,720).
Regarding claim 1, Johnson, Fig. 15 shows a splice joint assembly for joining bus bar structure ends to allow a splice connection at each bus bar structure of a plurality of bus bar structures (104), wherein the joint assembly includes:
a carriage bolt (100 and 118) configured to pass through an opening (not labeled) in the plurality of bus bar structures to fix a position of the plurality of bus bar structures relative to each other and to align the plurality of bus bar structures, wherein the carriage bolt is electrically insulated or made of an electrically insulating material; and
a spacer structure (106) disposed between each bus bar structure and around the carriage bolt, the spacer structure configured to electrically isolate each bus bar structure from adjacent bus bar structures, wherein the spacer structure defines an axial gap distance between bus bar structures, wherein the spacer structure defines an elongated over-surface path to elongate an over-surface distance to maintain electrical isolation of adjacent bus bar structures.
Regarding claim 2, the bus bar structures each includes bus bar pairs (104, Fig. 15) configured to receive complementary bus bar pairs (bus bar pairs of 114, Fig. 17).
Regarding claim 3, Fig. 17 shows the complimentary bus bar pairs, wherein the complimentary bus bar pairs include a rotatable portion (100 of 114) configured to rotate into captive engagement with the bus bar structures.
Regarding claim 17, the carriage bolt is metallic (100) and includes an insulating sheath (118, Fig. 15) disposed thereon.
Regarding claim 18, Fig. 17 shows a first plurality of bus bar structures of a first section (112) joined together at a first joint while being electrically isolated from each other; a second plurality of bus bar structures of a second section (114) joined together at a second joint while being electrically isolated from each other; and a rotating captive engagement assembly (bolts (100) of 114) rotatably and electrically connected to the second plurality of bus bar structures at a rotation joint and configured to engage the first plurality of bus bar structures at the first joint in an engaged position to electrically connect the first plurality of bus bar structures to the second plurality of bus bar structures to splice the first section and the second section.
Regarding claim 20, Fig. 17 shows a first section (112); a second section (114); and at least one splice joint assembly of claim 1 disposed between the first section and the second section to splice the first section and the second section together in electrical communication.
Claims 1 and 4-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Rodrigues et al. (7,819,681).
Regarding claim 1, Rodrigues et al. disclose a splice joint assembly for joining bus bar structure ends to allow a splice connection at each bus bar structure (101a, 101b, 102a or 102b, Fig. 3) of a plurality of bus bar structures, wherein the joint assembly includes:
a carriage bolt (154, Fig. 3) configured to pass through an opening (FIGURE A below) in the plurality of bus bar structures to fix a position of the plurality of bus bar structures relative to each other and to align the plurality of bus bar structures, wherein the carriage bolt is electrically insulated or made of an electrically insulating material; and
a spacer structure (130b and 130c) disposed between each bus bar structure and around the carriage bolt, the spacer structure configured to electrically isolate each bus bar structure from adjacent bus bar structures, wherein the spacer structure defines an axial gap distance between bus bar structures, wherein the spacer structure defines an elongated over-surface path to elongate an over-surface distance to maintain electrical isolation of adjacent bus bar structures.
Regarding claim 4, Fig. 3 shows the spacer structure includes a plurality of flange spacers (130b and 130c) configured to nest together to isolate the bus bar structures.
Regarding claim 5, Fig. 3 shows the plurality of flanged spacers includes alternating first spacers (130b) and second spacers (130c).
Regarding claim 6, each of the first spacers include: a first neck portion (FIGURE A below) extending over the carriage bolt and having an outer dimension configured to fit within the opening of the plurality of bus bar structures; and a first flange portion (FIGURE A below) extending dimensionally outward relative to the first neck portion.
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Regarding claim 7, each of the second spacers include:
a second neck portion (FIGURE A above) extending over the carriage bolt and having an outer dimension configured to fit within the opening of the plurality of bus bar structures, wherein the second neck portion is configured to nest with the first neck portion; and a second flange portion (FIGURE A above) extending dimensionally outward relative to the second neck portion, the second flange portion configured to nest with the first flange portion.
Regarding claim 8, Fig. 2 shows the first flange portion and the second flange portion define one or more channels (pointed at 130d) configured to increase surface area between bus bar structures.
Claims 1 and 10-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Faulkner (2005/0233625).
Regarding claim 1, Faulkner discloses a splice joint assembly for joining bus bar structure ends to allow a splice connection at each bus bar structure of a plurality of bus bar structures (40, Fig. 3), wherein the joint assembly includes:
a carriage bolt (66, Fig. 6) configured to pass through an opening (34/42) in the plurality of bus bar structures to fix a position of the plurality of bus bar structures relative to each other and to align the plurality of bus bar structures (Fig. 5), wherein the carriage bolt is electrically insulated or made of an electrically insulating material; and
a spacer structure (56 and 62, Fig. 6) disposed between each bus bar structure and around the carriage bolt (Fig. 5), the spacer structure configured to electrically isolate each bus bar structure from adjacent bus bar structures, wherein the spacer structure defines an axial gap distance between bus bar structures, wherein the spacer structure defines an elongated over-surface path to elongate an over-surface distance to maintain electrical isolation of adjacent bus bar structures.
Regarding claim 10, an anti-rotation retainer (68, Fig. 6) assembly configured to retain the carriage bolt in a rotational position relative to the bus bar structures, and a nut (64) configured to thread to the carriage bolt to axially retain the carriage bolt, the bus bar structures, and the spacer assembly (Fig. 5).
Regarding claim 11, the anti-rotation retainer includes a housing structure configured to engage with an end bus bar structure of the plurality of bus bar structures to prevent rotation of the housing structure (Fig. 5), wherein the housing structure is configured to receive a flat (pointed at 66, Fig. 5) of the carriage bolt to rotationally lock the carriage bolt to the housing structure.
Regarding claim 12, the housing structure includes a lip (where another bolt is inserted, Fig. 4) configured to contact the end bus bar structure and to engage the end bus bar structure with the lip.
Regarding claim 13, the housing structure includes a plate detent (pointed at 68, Fig. 5 or a vertical wall) defined by one wall extending axially.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 9, 14-16 and 19 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
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 06/09/26
thanh-tam.le@uspto.gov
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