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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election with traverse of Species 1, Figs. 1A-6, claims 1-10 and 21-29 in the reply filed on 07/01/25 is acknowledged.
Claims 4, 16 and 23-24 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected species, species 3 (at least one tab).
Claims 8-9 and 13-14 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected species.
Claims 25-26 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected species, species 6 (conductive washer).
Claims 28-29 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected species, species 2 (a plurality of openings).
Specification
[0026], lines 3-4, “the surface connector 16” should be changed –the surface connector 14--;
[0026], line 4; and [0027], lines 2, “insulating cover” should be – insulating cover 16--;
Claim Objections
Claim 1, line 5, “points” should be --point--;
Claim 2, line 2, “outer” should be deleted;
Claim 24, line 1, “24” should be changed --21--;
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claim 27 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Claim 27, “the wire connector is an arm extending away from the surface connector” are not described in the specification.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 1-3, 5-7, 10-12, 15 and 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Pettersson (4,023,882).
Regarding claims 1 and 11, Pettersson discloses a connector assembly for providing electrical connection from an electrical device ground wire (7, Fig. 7) to a vehicle chassis ground (14, Fig. 8), the connector assembly comprising:
a connection to the electrical device ground wire; and
a surface connector configured to attach to a vehicle chassis, wherein the surface connector further comprises: an insulating cover (19, Fig. 7); and at least one conductive contact point (one of 17, Fig. 7) within the insulating cover configured to selectively protrude through the insulating cover and make contact with the vehicle chassis when the connector assembly is secured to the vehicle chassis (Fig. 8).
Regarding claim 2, Fig. 8 shows the at least one conductive contact point of the surface connector is configured to pierce the insulating cover and contact the vehicle chassis while remaining sealed from the surroundings when the surface connector is secured to the vehicle chassis.
Regarding claims 3 and 15, Fig. 8 shows the at least one conductive contact point of the surface connector is geometrically configured to prevent damage to the connector assembly during installation of the connector assembly to the vehicle chassis.
Regarding claim 5, Fig. 8 shows the insulating cover (19) substantially covers the surface connector and configured to protect the surrounding area of the at least one of conductive contact point (one of 17) when the surface connector is secured to the vehicle chassis.
Regarding claim 6, the insulating cover comprises a material (sealing element) that resists oxidation and corrosion.
Regarding claim 7, Fig. 8 shows the surface connector is configured to receive a fastener (8) to secure the connector assembly to the vehicle chassis.
Regarding claim 10, Fig. 8 shows the connection to the electrical device ground wire comprises a wire connector coupled to the surface connector configured to receive the electrical device ground wire or cable.
Regarding claim 12, Fig. 8 shows the insulating cover is configured to protect the connection to the electrical device ground wire.
Regarding claim 21, Fig. 11 shows a connector assembly for providing electrical connection from an electrical device ground wire to a vehicle chassis ground, the connector assembly comprising:
a conductive body comprising a wire connector (7) and a surface connector (15’’), wherein the surface connector comprises an upper surface (20) and a lower surface (16) with an aperture (not labeled) between the upper and lower surface to define an interior socket and at least one pin (17) extending away from the lower surface to form a protruding attachment point, wherein the at least one pin includes a distal end having a sharpened edge or point; and
an insulating cover (19 and 19’) disposed about the surface connector of the conductive body, the insulating cover encasing the at least one pin such that the distal end of the at least one pin does not extend beyond the insulating cover, and partially covering the upper and lower surfaces of the surface connector, the insulating cover spaced radially apart from the aperture in the upper surface of the surface connector so that a portion of the upper surface about the aperture is uncovered.
Regarding claim 27, Fig. 11 shows the wire connector is an arm extending away from the surface connector and integrally formed therewith.
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 22 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Pettersson in view of Kindell (3,588,787).
Regarding claim 22, Pettersson discloses the claimed invention as described above except for at least three pins extending away from the lower surface of the at least three pins forming a protruding attachment point, wherein the at least three pins each include a distal end having a sharp point.
Kindell, Figs. 8 and 9 show a metal annulus (41) having three pins (43) extending away from the lower surface of the at least three pins forming a protruding attachment point, wherein the at least three pins each include a distal end (49) having a sharp point.
It would have been obvious to modify Pettersson to have three pins extending away from the lower surface of the at least three pins forming a protruding attachment point, wherein the at least three pins each include a distal end having a sharp point, as taught by Kindell for better connection.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THANH TAM T LE whose telephone number is (571)272-2094. The examiner can normally be reached 9AM-6PM.
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/THANH TAM T LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831 07/29/26.
thanh-tam.le@uspto.gov
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