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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Pages 5-12, filed December 17, 2025, with respect to claims 1, 3-9, and 13 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The Non-Final Rejection filed on September 26, 2025, of claims 1-18 has been withdrawn. Below please find the new Non Final Rejection. The examiner apologizes for any inconvenience this may have cause.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the “third portion” and “fourth portion”, must be shown and labeled with a reference number or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1, 3-9, and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, because the specification, while being enabling for the electrical cable including a third portion being encapsulated in the insulation material and forming a distal end (Figs 3A-3F), does not reasonably provide enablement for the third portion being encapsulated in the insulation material and forming a terminal end. The specification does not enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make/use the invention commensurate in scope with these claims. Specifically, it is unclear how a terminal end can be formed with the presence of an insulation layer, when it is known in the art that the terminal end should be free of insulation in order for the electrical connection between the terminal and the conductor should be made. The specification specifies that the terminal end of the invention is denoted by reference number 260 (Paragraph 34), which discloses Figures 4A-4E and illustrates the terminal end being free of insulation, not the third portion of which is illustrated in Figures 3A-3E. The applicant should refer to the end of the third portion encapsulated in the insulation as the distal end to be consistent with the specification and drawings.
Claims 1, 3-9, and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "a second opposite end" in line 4, which is confusing and renders the claim indefinite. It is unclear what second opposite end the applicant is referring to since there has been no mention of a first end in previous lines of the claims. Is the applicant referring to the previous mentioned “first end area” and introducing a new --second opposite end area--. If the applicant is referring to the previous mentioned term, then he/she should recite the terms with consistency. If the applicant is referring to a new –second opposite end area, then he/she should the claims as such.
Treatment of the Claims
The examiner assumes that the applicant intends to refer that “the third portion encapsulated in the insulation material forms a distal end” rather than a terminal end.
The examiner assumes that the applicant intends to refer to the cable having “a first end” and “a second end” to provide the claims with clarity.
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) 1-2, 5-9, and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Mathews et al (Pub Num 2021/0044071, herein referred to as Matthews). Mathews discloses high voltage high current electrical cable (Figs 1-7B) for usage with a motor vehicle, wherein the stranded conductor is mechanically compacted to form a terminal (abstract), wherein forming the terminal from the stranded conductor reduces assembling steps, reduces installation space and overall weight, thereby reducing production cost (Paragraph 13). Specifically, with respect to claim 1, Mathews discloses a high voltage high current electrical cable (2, Figs 1a-1c) comprising a plurality of strands (4) forming the electrical cable (2, Paragraph 52), wherein the electrical cable (2) includes a first end (left end) and a second opposite end (right end), wherein the first end (left end) includes a first portion (located at left insulation 6), a second portion (located at 10), and third portion (located at right 6), wherein the third portion (located at right 6) is encapsulated in the insulation material (right 6) and forming a distal end (Fig 1b), wherein the second portion (located at 10) is between the first portion (located at left 6) and the third portion (located at right 6), wherein the first portion (located at left 6) of the cable (2) is encapsulated in an insulation material (left 6) and the second portion (located at 10) is free of the insulation material (Paragraph 55-56), wherein the plurality of strands (4) in the second portion (located at 10) are sized and shaped and fused together into an integrated connection terminal (10, Paragraphs 57-58), wherein the integrated connection terminal (10) consisting of the fused together plurality of strands (4) such that the first end (left end) of the electrical cable (2) is free from a separate terminal component (10) being coupled thereto (Fig 2), a first transition portion (tapered area left of 10, Fig 1c) between the first portion (located at left 6) and the second portion (located at 10), and a second transition portion (tapered area right of 10, Fig 1c) between the second portion (located at 10) and the third portion (located at right 6), wherein an average width of the first and second transition portions (left and right tapered areas adjacent 10) are greater than a width of the first portion (located at left 6, Fig 2) and third portions (located at right 6, Fig 2) and less than a width of the second portion (located at 10, Fig 2), wherein the strands (4) of the first and second transition portions (left and right tapered areas adjacent 10) are free of being fused together (i.e. transition portions are unbonded, Fig 2) and the second portion (10) includes a rectangular shape in cross section (Fig 2) having at least flat and parallel upper and lower opposed faces and parallel side faces (Fig 2), and the first and third portions (located at left and right 6, respectively) are circular shaped in cross section (Fig 2, Paragraph 57). With respect to claims 5-6, Mathews discloses that the plurality of strands (4) are fused together via ultrasonic welding (Paragraph 58). With respect to claim 7, Mathews discloses that integrated connection terminal (10, Fig 7a) comprises a flat configuration for connection to a receiving component (12b, Fig 7a). With respect to claim 8, Mathews discloses that the plurality of strands (4) in the second portion (located at 10) are sized and shaped and fused together into an integrated connection terminal (10) forming an aperture (22) therein (Fig 7b). With respect to claim 9, Mathews discloses that the cable (2) further comprises a fourth portion (area located between adjacent left 6 and first transition portion (left tapered areas adjacent 10)) after the first portion (located at left 6) and before the second portion (located at 10), wherein the fourth portion (area located between adjacent left 6 and first transition portion (left tapered areas adjacent 10)) being free of the insulation material (6) and including the plurality of strands (4) in an unfused state (Fig 1c), wherein the fourth portion (area located between adjacent left 6 and first transition portion (left tapered areas adjacent 10)) includes a circular shape in cross-section (Fig 2). With respect to claim 13, Mathews discloses that the integrated connection terminal (10) forms a plate-like structure consisting only of the fused together plurality of strands (2, Fig 2).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
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.
Claim(s) 3-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mathews (Pub Num 2021/0044071). Mathews discloses high voltage high current electrical cable (Figs 1-7B) for usage with a motor vehicle, wherein the stranded conductor is mechanically compacted to form a terminal (abstract), wherein forming the terminal from the stranded conductor reduces assembling steps, reduces installation space and overall weight, thereby reducing production cost (Paragraph 13), as disclosed with respect to claim 1.
While Mathews discloses the plurality of strands (4) being covered with an insulation material (6) in the third portion (located at right 6), Matthews doesn’t necessarily disclose the plurality of strands in the third portion being recessed inside the insulation material (claim 3), nor the recessed plurality of strands are secured to each other and the insulation with an adhesive (claim 4).
With respect to claim 3, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art of cables at the time the invention was made to modify the plurality of strands in the third portion of Mathews to be recessed in the insulation, since it has been held that a change in form cannot sustain patentability where involved is only extended application of obvious attributes from a prior art. In re Span-Deck Inc. vs. Fab-Con Inc. (CA 8, 1982) 215 USPQ 835.
With respect to claim 4, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to modify the plurality of stranded conductors in the recessed portion of modified Mathews to be held by an adhesive, since it is well known in the art of cables that adhesive, such as EVA, EEA, etc., are commonly utilized in the art to contain stranded conductors side by side for the purpose of simplifying terminations and connections to terminals by controlling the spacing and arrangement of the plurality of stranded conductors.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Please refer to the enclosed PTO-892 form for the citation of pertinent art in the present case, all of which disclose cables being formed by fusing the stranded conductors to form terminals.
This action is a Non-Final Rejection.
Communication
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WILLIAM H MAYO III whose telephone number is (571)272-1978. The examiner can normally be reached on M-Thurs (5:30a-3:00p) Fri 5:30a-2p (w/alternating Fridays off).
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Imani Hayman can be reached on (571) 270-5528. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/William H. Mayo III/
William H. Mayo III
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2847
WHM III
December 30, 2025