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 .
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The following title is suggested: ROTARY CONNECTOR DEVICE HAVING AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR IN A CANTILEVER MANNER.
Claim Objections
Claim 14 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 14, line 8, the examiner suggests the applicant to change “a first position” to -- a position -- because claims 14 and 15 do not recites, “a second position”.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 6-8 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 6 recites the limitation "the second position" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claims 1 and 3, where claim 6 is depended on, do not recite, “a second position”. Claim 1, line 10 only recites, “a first position”.
Claim 15 recites the limitation "the second rotational axis" in lines 2-3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 14, where claim 15 is depended on, only recites, “a first rotational axis” in line 15.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5, 9-14 are allowed, but claim 14 is objected.
Reason for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: In combination with all the limitations recited in the independent claim, the prior art of record does not anticipate nor render obvious a rotary connector device comprising: a stator including a first stator and a second stator attached to the first stator; a rotator provided rotatably about a first rotational axis with respect to the stators, the rotator forming, along with the stator; a connector coupling portion for coupling an electrical connector, including a first surface and a second surface provided on a reverse side of the first surface, to the first stator and for positioning the electrical connector in a first position with respect to the first stator, the second surface being positioned between the first rotational axis and the first surface in a state where the electrical connector is positioned in the first position; the connector coupling portion for supporting the electrical connector in a cantilever manner with respect to the first stator such that the second surface becomes a free end in a state where the electrical connector is positioned in the first position and where the second stator is detached from the first stator, and the second stator being at least partially positioned between the first stator and the electrical connector in an axial direction defined along the first rotational axis in a state where the electrical connector is positioned in the first position and where the second stator is attached to the first stator.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Claims 6-8 and 15 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include 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 HAE MOON HYEON whose telephone number is (571) 272-2093. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 9:30 am - 6:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Abdullah A 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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/hmh/
/Hae Moon Hyeon/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831