DETAILED ACTION
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 text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claims 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Osaka et al. US 11517847 (“Osaka”).
Regarding claim 1, Osaka discloses a joint terminal 11 (i.e., a terminal having plural connection portions 43 electrically connected to each other ) made of a metal plate material (col. 9, lines 24-51), comprising:
a base portion (labeled BS in annotated figure 10 below);
a plurality of connecting portions (43, labeled CP below) projecting forward from the base portion; and
a guide portion (labeled P1, P2, P3 below) extending in a front-rear direction while surrounding the plurality of connecting portions.
The base portion, the plurality of connecting portions and the guide portion are made of a metal plate material, and
the guide portion is configured to guide a mating connector for insertion into the joint terminal so that at least a part of the mating connector is interposed between the guide portion and the plurality of connecting portions, and is electrically connected to the plurality of the connecting portions. See annotated figure 13 below, various portions of the mating connector are in the slot (labeled “slot” below) between the guide portion and connecting portion.
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Per claim 2 the guide portion integrally includes a first plate portion (labeled P1),
a pair of second plate portions (labeled P2) rising from both ends of the first plate portion and
a third plate portion (labeled P3) projecting from one of the pair of second plate portions toward the other.
Per claim 3, the plurality of connecting portions are coupled to the third plate portion via the base portion having a folded shape.
Per claim 4, the third plate portion includes a fixed lock portion lockable to a mating resilient lock portion (col. 7, lines 7-17).
Per claim5 the joint terminal is entirely made of the single plate material (col. 9, lines 24-51).
Response to Arguments
Applicant argues that Osaka does not disclose that the the mating connector is between the connecting portion and guide portion. The examiner maintains that it is, as shown in annotated figure 13 above.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROSS GUSHI whose telephone number is (571)272-2005. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Thursday, 8:30 - 5:00.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christopher Koehler can be reached on 571-272-3560. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ROSS N GUSHI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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