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
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.
Claim(s) 32-35, 37-38, 44, 47, and 57-66 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by WO 2020/061144 to Claessens et al.
Claessens discloses in the abstract and figures 4, 6, and 10-13, a fiber management organizer for a telecom device comprising:
A basket (internal volume in figure 7), including a support surface (upper region 308) and a wall extending from the support surface (divider 304) that defines a volume for fiber storage. Further walls (312) are perpendicular and extend from the support surface to define a volume; and
A fiber retainer (tray 350 and internal components shown in figure 15 to retain fibers), the retainer including a retaining portion having a retaining body (figure 15) and a mounting portion (118) having a mounting body (figure 5), the body configured to be locked at mounting locations at a different height relative to the height dimension (figure 4 shows a staggered, step mounting in a height direction).
As to claim 33, the plurality of mounting locations are bounded by the basket wall and therefore defined by the wall of the basket. The claims do not require the mount to be molded into the basket all. Further, the mount leg (104) itself is mounted to the basket at a rear wall (figure 11).
As to claim 34, the claims do not specifically recite structure that defines how the mounting locations “define” a fiber tray support. Certainly, the tray mount structure is adapted to mount the support structure (100) to a structure within the closed volume of the telecom enclosure (figures 4-6B).
As to claim 35, this claim adds a “catch” that is defined to be configured to be received by the enclosed opening to set a height relative to the basket volume (In figure 6A, mounting leg tabs define resilient retainers 118 that set a height of the tray at a specific location). The mounting leg (104) then slides into a slot provided in the telecom enclosure that adjusts another height (whether that height is changed during assembly or fully assembled).
As to claim 37, this claim adds the limitations of a sealable and re-enterable volume with fiber routing. Figure 9 discloses input port areas (206) to enter the volume. Housing pieces (sealing blocks 210) allow for a sealable and re-enterable volume).
Claims 38 and 57 are a method claim allowing for the use of the above disclosed structure. Since the structure is present, the general providing and use is anticipated.
As to claim 44, the plurality of mounting locations are defined by a receiver retainer (figure 6B shows the plurality of mounting locations at each 118 retainer).
As to claim 47, the height decreases along a longitudinal dimension (see height “stepping lower” in figure 4).
As to claim 58, the retaining arms (118) extend higher than the body from which they protrude from.
As to claim 59, the coupler retainers (118) are resilient and “catch” the respective opposing portion of the tray to secure it in place.
As to claim 60, the catch can be received in the fully enclosed opening.
As to claim 61, further guides (receptacle 340) are disclosed.
As to claim 62, the support is mounted in receptacle defined by the device 300 with open top 341 along a height parallel to a height dimension (lines 32-34; page 12).
As to claims 63-66, these claims relate to the locking and securing of each tray at their relative height positions. The prior art trays are mounted in a staggered height direction that allow for pivoting and therefore meet these limitations.
Claim(s) 32-35, 37-38, 44, 47, and 57-66 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by WO 2019/123496 to Abbiati.
Abbiati discloses in the abstract and figures 1-8, a fiber management organizer for a telecom device comprising:
A basket (figure 8 depicts what would normally go into a “box” as described in Abbiati’s background), including a support surface (11) and a wall extending from the support surface (divider 27) that defines a volume for fiber storage. Further walls (24) are perpendicular and extend from the support surface to define a volume; and
A fiber retainer (tray 12 and internal components shown in figure 2 to retain fibers), the retainer including a retaining portion having a retaining body (figure 2) and a mounting portion (respective locking clip to portion 13) having a mounting body (13), the body configured to be locked at mounting locations at a different height relative to the height dimension (figure 8 shows a staggered, step mounting in a height direction).
As to claim 33, the plurality of mounting locations are bounded by the basket wall and therefore defined by the wall of the basket. The claims do not require the mount to be molded into the basket all. Further, the mount leg (32) itself is mounted to the basket at a rear wall (figures 6-7).
As to claim 34, the claims do not specifically recite structure that defines how the mounting locations “define” a fiber tray support. Certainly, the tray mount structure is adapted to mount the support structure (32) to a structure within the closed volume of the telecom enclosure (figure 8 is to be placed in an enclosure).
As to claim 35, this claim adds a “catch” that is defined to be configured to be received by the enclosed opening to set a height relative to the basket volume (In figure 3, mounting leg tabs define resilient retainers (unlabeled circular pins) that set a height of the tray at a specific location). The mounting leg then slides into a slot provided in the telecom enclosure that adjusts another height (whether that height is changed during assembly or fully assembled).
As to claim 37, this claim adds the limitations of a sealable and re-enterable volume with fiber routing. Figure 8 discloses input port areas (11a and 11b) to enter the volume.
Claims 38 and 57 are a method claim allowing for the use of the above disclosed structure. Since the structure is present, the general providing and use is anticipated.
As to claim 44, the plurality of mounting locations are defined by a receiver retainer (figure 8 shows the plurality of mounting locations at each retainer).
As to claim 47, the height decreases along a longitudinal dimension (see height “stepping lower” in figure 8).
As to claim 58, the retaining arms (each respective fiber routing portions 27 in figures 4-5) extend higher than the body from which they protrude from.
As to claim 59, the coupler retainers (the tabs with circular protrusions) are resilient and “catch” the respective opposing portion of the tray to secure it in place.
As to claim 60, the catch can be received in the fully enclosed opening.
As to claim 61, further guides (17) are disclosed.
As to claim 62, the support is mounted in receptacle defined by the device with open top along a height parallel to a height dimension (background of invention describes typical enclosures).
As to claims 63-66, these claims relate to the locking and securing of each tray at their relative height positions. The prior art trays are mounted in a staggered height direction that allow for pivoting and therefore meet these limitations.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 2021/0116664 (multiple pivoting trays).
US 10,247,896 (trays with added tab portions 12).
US 9,140,870 (figure 6 fir added latches and tabs to a mounting arm).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Eric K Wong whose telephone number is (571)272-2363. The examiner can normally be reached M-Tu, Th-F 8A-6P.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Thomas Hollweg can be reached on 571-270-1739. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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ERIC K. WONG
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2874
/Eric Wong/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2874
Prosecution Insights