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, 4 and 8-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by DE10013482 to Glaum et al (cited in IDS Foreign Document #2).
Glaum discloses in figure 1 and paragraphs 47 and 57-58, a method for production of an optical fiber connector, the method comprising the steps of:
Providing an optical fiber (2), which contains at least one individual fiber, and a sheath (cladding);
Stripping the sheath on one end of the fiber (area 1 in figure 5), such that a predefined first length is exposed;
Providing an injection mold (5; figure 1) with a first and second part, wherein the first part has a first cavity which the material is injected and the second part has a second cavity where the fiber end is placed (3; figure 1);
Securing the end of the fiber, wherein a second length of one exposed end extends into the first cavity (figure 1);
Injecting the injecting molding material into the first cavity to obtain a connector element, wherein the at least one exposed end is partially coated,
Wherein the first and second part of the mold are brought to different temperatures (no specifics are recited as to when the temperatures are applied and therefore the temperatures could be different at various stages of the assembly process).
As to claim 4, the mold is thermally insulated (figure 1).
As to claim 8, it is unclear how the elements are integrally molded when the process involves the use of two separate molding components.
As to claim 9, no specifics are recited to define a “mixer”.
Claim(s) 10-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by EP3524877 to Kretschmer et al (cited in IDS Foreign Document #3).
Kretschmer discloses in figure 11 and paragraph 34, an optical fiber connector through which light enters comprising:
At least one connector element (5), and
At least one optical fiber (21) with a stripped end (paragraph 34), and materially bonded (it is noted that the injection molding process itself is not a positive limitation in an apparatus claim).
As to claim 11, an illumination device is disclosed (figure 11).
As to claim 12, an RGB source is disclosed in paragraph 37.
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.
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) 2-3 and 5-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Glaum above.
Glaum discloses the invention except for the broadly recited temperature range, extension of the fiber in the “bridge element”, linings or heating/cooling channels. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to adjust temperatures, add lining to provide for mold release and channels to properly optimize mold temperatures and proper mold release.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 2018/0356603 (injection molded connector).
US 2024/0025098 (mold temperatures and channels; paragraph 5).
US 11,731,320 (16; figure 2).
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.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
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.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
ERIC K. WONG
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2874
/Eric Wong/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2874