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 10 is objected to because:
Claim 10, line 1, “the a” should be changed to -the-. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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, 2, 5 and 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kawai Ryuji et al. (WO 2012/121061) hereafter Kawai.
Regarding claim 1, Kawai, discloses a plug-connector plug 13 (fig. 6) for a plug connector 20 with increased vibratory strength, the plug-connector plug 11 comprising: a plug-connector plug housing 10 defining a receptacle space (insertion holes); at least one contact element 14 arranged in the receptacle space (insertion holes) of the plug-connector plug housing 10, wherein the at least one contact element is configured to electrically connect a contact socket 14K to a contact pin 20T within the receptacle space; and at least one elastomer element C configured to elastically mount and/or position the at least one contact element 14 in the receptacle space (insertion holes) (see fig. 8C)of the plug-connector plug housing, and wherein the at least one elastomer element C is positioned to space apart the contact socket 14k and the contact pin 20 when the contact socket is electrically engaged with the contact pin via the at least one contact element (see fig. 8C).
Regarding claim 2, Kawai, discloses at least one the elastomer element is formed by a cylindrical main body (spring being cylindrical shaped).
Regarding claim 5, Kawai, discloses a mutual clearance fit is defined by the arrangement of the at least one elastomer element, the receptacle space, and the contact element.
Regarding claim 7, Kawai, discloses a plug connector for implementing a releasable electrically conducting connection, having a plug-connector plug as claimed in claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3, 4 and 8-14 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.
Regarding claim 3, the prior art of record does not disclose a plug-connector plug for a plug connector with increased vibratory strength, the plug-connector plug comprising: at least one elastomer element comprises a collar at one end of the cylindrical main body as required in combination with other limitation of this claim.
Regarding claim 10, the prior art of record does not disclose a plug-connector plug for a plug connector with increased vibratory strength, the plug-connector plug comprising the cylindrical main body comprises an introduction ramp arranged at one end of the cylindrical main body.
Regarding claim 13, the prior art of record does not disclose a plug-connector plug for a plug connector with increased vibratory strength, the plug-connector plug comprising the cylindrical main body comprises: a collar at a first end; and an introduction ramp at a second end opposite the first end.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-5 and 7-14have 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
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.
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/HARSHAD C PATEL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831