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.
Claims 1, 2, 5-9 and 12-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Tobey et al. (US 2021/0104843) hereafter Tobey.
Regarding claim 1, Tobey, discloses a security connector 100, comprising: a free connector housing exactly two contacts that conduct data and/or power, the free connector 100 having a front face defining a main outer perimeter and including at least one recess 602extending inwardly from the main outer perimeter and including at least one keying extension (chamfer) 602 extending outwardly from the main outer perimeter (see paragraphs [0072]-[0073] and figs. 2A-3,6,14].
Regarding claim 8, Tobey, discloses a security connector 100 comprising: a forward connector body 1402, housing exactly two electrical contacts that transmit data, power, or both data and power, the forward connector body including a forward portion and a rearward portion, the forward portion having a forward face with a main outer perimeter and at least one keying extension extending outward from the main outer perimeter (See paragraphs [0072], [0073], [0[0082]-[0083] and figs. 2A-3, 6, 14); a rear connector body 1452a,1452b (to receive first and second conductors 12, 14, that electrically interfaces with the electrical contacts (see paragraphs [0091] and figs. 14, 18; and a metal frame 1404 having a rearward portion and forward portion, the rearward portion of the metal frame 1404 positioned about the rear connector body and a rearward portion of the forward connector body 1402, the forward portion of the metal frame1404 positioned about the forward portion of the forward connector body 1402 (see paragraphs [0082]]- [0088] and figs 14, 15).
Regarding claims 2 and 9, Tobey, discloses up to three different keying extensions protuberance 602, chamfer 604 extend outward from the main outer perimeter (connector body 1402) and the panel 606.
Regarding claims 5 and 12, Tobey, discloses the up to three different keying extensions comprise at least one of a downward extension (354, see fig. 4A) and a side extension 602 (fig. 6).
Regarding claims 6and 13, Tobey, discloses the up to three different keying extensions consist of a first downward extension 354, a second downward extension, and a side extension 602 (fig. 6).
Regarding claims 7 and 16, Tobey, discloses a stabilizing feature 9a latch) 138 (see para [0052], figs. 2A, 14) located within the main outer perimeter 1402 (as retaining feature).
Regarding claim 14, Tobey, discloses, the at least one keying extension extends downward from the forward face and has a depth that extends to a forward edge of the metal frame.
Regarding claim 15, Tobey discloses, the exactly two electrical contacts 1000 each have first ends that comprise a tuning fork contact and each have second ends that comprise insulation displacement contacts (IDCs), see fig 16.
Regarding claims 17 and 19, Tobey discloses, a coupler (multi-way coupler) comprising: a dual-ended coupler body housing a contact sub-assembly having exactly two electrical contacts that transmit both power and data, at least one end of the dual-ended coupler body including at least one keying recess corresponding to the at least one keying extension of the security connector of claim 1, enabling the security connector to interface with the dual-ended coupler body ((see paragraphs [0068]-[0072], [0113], [0114], claims 70-774 and figs. 2A6; a fixed connector 300 including keying features and a recess for receiving a free connector 100 having two dual ended contacts and key features (chamfer), enabling the free connector 100 to interface with the fixed connector 300).
Regarding claim 18, Tobey discloses, two electrical contacts that transmit both power and data, the connector body including an opening for receiving the security connector of claim 1, the opening of the connector body including at least one keying recess (panel) 606 corresponding to the at least one keying extension (a chamfer) 606 of the security connector.
Regarding claim 20, Tobey discloses a security connector 100, comprising: a free connector housing exactly two contacts that conduct data and/or power, the free connector having a front face defining a main outer perimeter and including at least one recess extending inwardly from the main outer perimeter and including at least one keying extension extending outwardly from the main outer perimeter, (as discussed above) and wherein the main outer perimeter is defined by International Electrochemical Committee Standard IEC 63171-1 (see paragraphs [0049].
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 3, 4, 10 and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tobey in view of Martin et al. (US 2016/0141790) hereafter Martin
Regarding claims 3 and 4, 10, 11, Tobey discloses all the claimed limitations except for at least seven different keying combinations and includes a color-coded security feature, and the forward connector body additionally includes a color-coded security feature.
Martin et al. (US 2016/0141790) discloses (see fig. paragraphs [0020]-[0022] and figs. 1-3), vertical positions of the keying features (116, 118) on sides of a housing 102 are varied to define different interfaces; an electrical connector 100 different types of the front housing 104, having different arrangements of keying features 116 and define different mating interface , such as for mating with different types of mating connectors, and a rear housing 106 accepts the different types of front housing 104. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have at least seven different keying combinations and includes a color-coded security feature, and the forward connector body additionally includes a color-coded security feature, as taught by Martin, in order to connect the connector in different orientations.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See attached PTO 892.
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/HARSHAD C PATEL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831