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) 1-10, 12-18, 21, 29 and 40 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent Application Publication 2016/0077298 to Wiltjer et al.
In regards to claim 1, Wiltjer recites a fiber panel system (2) comprising: a chassis (100) defining an interior extending along a forward-rearward axis between a front end and a rear end, extending along a lateral axis between opposite first and second sides, and extending along a height between a top and a bottom; and a spacer wall (106) disposed within the interior of the chassis, the spacer wall having a first side facing in a first direction along the lateral axis and a second side facing in an opposite second direction along the lateral axis, the first side of the spacer wall defining a first plurality of parallel support surfaces (Figures 1-4, 13 & 14; [0068]) extending along the forward-rearward axis, and the second side of the spacer wall defining a second plurality of parallel support surfaces (Figures 1-4, 13 & 14; [0068]) extending along the forward- rearward axis, the second support surfaces being offset [0068]; 3 guide channels, each offset along the height) from the first support surfaces along the height of the chassis.
In regards to claim 2, Wiltjer recites the spacer wall is one of a plurality of spacer walls (102, 104, 106) disposed within the interior of the chassis, the spacer walls being spaced apart from each other along the lateral axis to divide the interior into a plurality of parallel through- passages. (Figure 3)
In regards to claim 3, Wiltjer recites the spacer walls are identical to each other.
In regards to claim 4, Wiltjer recites a cassette (200) configured to mount within the interior of the chassis, the cassette extending along the lateral axis between a first end and a second end, the cassette including a first rail (212) disposed at the first end and a latching arrangement disposed at the second end, the first rail being configured to glide over one of the support surfaces at the first side of a first of the spacer walls and the latching arrangement being configured to glide over one of the support surfaces at the second side of a second of the spacer walls. (Figures 5 & 6)
In regards to claim 5, Wiltjer recites the cassette is a first cassette; and wherein a second cassette is configured to mount within the interior of the chassis between the first and second spacer walls, the second cassette being offset from the first cassette along the height of the chassis.
In regards to claim 6, Wiltjer recites a bottom surface of the first cassette directly opposes a top surface of the second cassette. (Figure 6)
In regards to claim 7, Wiltjer recites a third cassette configured to mount within the interior of the chassis between the second spacer wall and a third of the spacer walls, the third cassette being aligned with the first cassette along the lateral axis. (Figure 46)
In regards to claim 8, Wiltjer recites the cassette carries a plurality of front port members having front ports accessible from an exterior of the cassette and a plurality of rear ports accessible from an interior of the cassette. (Figures 28 & 37)
In regards to claim 9, Wiltjer recites the front ports of the front port members are configured to receive vertically oriented plug connectors.
In regards to claim 10, Wiltjer recites the front ports of the front port members are configured to receive LC plug connectors. [0079]
In regards to claim 12, Wiltjer recites the front ports of the front port members are configured to receive MPO plug connectors. [0079]
In regards to claim 13, Wiltjer recites the cassette carries a rear port member having a front port accessible from the interior of the cassette and a rear port accessible from the exterior of the cassette. (Figures 28 & 37)
In regards to claim 14, Wiltjer recites the chassis includes a bottom panel, a top panel, and opposite side panels that cooperate to define the interior.
In regards to claim 15, Wiltjer recites the spacer wall is secured to the bottom panel and to the top panel.
In regards to claim 16, Wiltjer recites each spacer wall includes lower protrusions that extend into apertures defined in the bottom panel and upper protrusions that extend into apertures defined in the top panel. (Figure 5)
In regards to claim 17, Wiltjer recites the support surfaces of the second plurality define notches (120, 122, 124; Figure 26A).
In regards to claim 18, Wiltjer recites each support surface of the second plurality defines a plurality of notches along the forward-rearward axis.
In regards to claim 21, Wiltjer recites a fiber panel system (2) comprising: a chassis (100) including: a body extending along a forward-rearward axis between a front and a rear, along a lateral axis between opposite first and second sides, and along a height between a top and a bottom, the chassis defining a plurality of chambers (Figure 2) each extending along the forward-rearward axis; a plurality of spacer walls (106) disposed within the chassis to separate the chambers; a respective plurality of guides (102 & 104) disposed within each chamber, each guide extending along the forward-rearward axis; and a plurality of cassettes (200; Figure 4) configured to be disposed within the chassis, each cassette including a body carrying a plurality of front ports, each body defining a channel configured to be aligned with one of the guides when the respective cassette is mounted at the chassis, each body carrying a latching arrangement configured to be aligned with another of the guides when the respective cassette is mounted at the chassis, each latching arrangement cooperating with the respective another of the guides to latch the cassette at the chassis.
In regards to claim 29, Wiltjer recites a cassette (Figures 28-44) comprising: a body including opposite sidewalls extending upwardly from a bottom floor to define an interior extending between a front end and a rear end; a plurality of parallel arms (240 & 242) extending forwardly of the body so that the arms protrude beyond the bottom floor, the arms being laterally spaced to define a plurality of mounting positions (Figure 29) therebetween; and a plurality of ports members mounted to the arms at the mounting positions, each of the port members being disposed forward of the bottom floor so that none of the port members seat on the bottom floor (Figure 30).
In regards to claim 40, Wiltjer recites a cassette (Figures 28-44) comprising: a body including opposite first and second sidewalls extending upwardly from a bottom floor to define an interior, each of the sidewalls extending along a forward-rearward axis of the body, the first and second sidewalls being spaced from each other along a lateral axis; a first rail (240) disposed at the first sidewall, the first rail extending along the forward- rearward axis; a second rail (242) disposed at the second sidewall, the second rail being offset along a height of the body from the first rail, the height of the body being transverse to the forward-rearward axis and to the lateral axis.
In regards to claim 41, Wiltjer recites a cassette (Figures 28-44) comprising: a body including opposite first and second sidewalls extending upwardly from a bottom floor to define an interior, each of the sidewalls extending along a forward-rearward axis of the body, the first and second sidewalls being spaced from each other along a lateral axis; a rail (240) disposed at the first sidewall, the rail extending along the forward-rearward axis; a latching arrangement disposed at the second sidewall, the latching arrangement (252 & 300 together; Figure 8; [0067]) including a forward arm extending forwardly beyond the body and a rearward arm extending rearwardly beyond the body, the latching arrangement having a different thickness than the rail.
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.
Claim(s) 11, 19 and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over U.S. Patent Application Publication 2016/0077298 to Wiltjer et al as applied to claim 1 above.
In regards to claim 11, although Wiltjer does not expressly disclose the front ports of the front port members are configured to receive SN plug connectors, Wiltjer does teach LC plug connectors and MPO plug connectors. Since SN plug connectors are known alternatives and are industry standard plug connectors, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date to a person having ordinary skill in the art for the front ports of the front port members are configured to receive SN plug connectors in order to provide the desired and matching plug connector when uniting two optical components.
In regards to claims 19 and 20, although Wiltjer does not expressly recite the support surfaces of the first plurality do not define notches and intermediate portions of the support surfaces of the second plurality oppose a vertical recesses, each of these structural features are know alternative features in the optical panel system art for the purpose of connecting and securing optical components. Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date to a person having ordinary skill in the art to have provided the support surfaces of the first plurality do not define notches and intermediate portions of the support surfaces of the second plurality oppose a vertical recesses in order to provide the desired and secure connection required.
References Cited
The references cited made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure.
The documents submitted by applicant in the Information Disclosure Statements have been considered and made of record. Note attached copy of forms PTO-1449.
Inventorship
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TINA M WONG whose telephone number is (571)272-2352. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30-5:30.
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/TINA WONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2874