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 § 112
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 1-7 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, the limitation “punching two terminal terminal sections adjacent to each other among the plurality of terminal sections to be coupled to formed different recesses in the two terminal sections” is unclear.
Claim 3, the limitation “outer side surfaces on opposite sides of the inner side surfaces” is unclear.
Claim 7, it is unclear that whether “a terminal” in line 2 is the same as “a terminal” in line 1.
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 1-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipated by Takeuchi (US 6,575,773).
Regarding claim 3, Takeuchi discloses a chain terminal comprising:
a plurality of terminal sections (3); and
a coupling section (8) that connects the plurality of terminal sections in a direction intersecting an extending direction of the terminal sections, wherein
in two terminal sections adjacent to each other among the plurality of terminal sections, different recesses are formed on one of inner side surfaces facing each other and outer side surfaces on opposite sides of the inner side surfaces.
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Regarding claim 4, Takeuchi discloses in the plurality of terminal sections, recesses having different shapes are alternately formed in a coupling direction.
Regarding claims 5-6, Takeuchi disclosed the claimed invention except to mention that the recess is formed to adjust alignment of the terminal sections.
It has been held that a recitation with respect to the manner in which a claimed apparatus is intended to be employed does not differentiate the claimed apparatus from a prior art apparatus satisfying the claimed structural limitation. Ex Parte Masham, 2 USPQ2d 1647 (1987).
regarding claim 7, Takeuchi discloses a connector comprising:
a plurality of terminals (3) including a terminal in which a first recess is formed on one of side surfaces on both sides and a terminal in which a second recess different from the first recess is formed on one of the side surfaces; and
a housing (2) to which the plurality of terminals are attached.
Regarding claims 1-2, the method claims are deemed inherence.
Takeuchi discloses a method of manufacturing a chain terminal, comprising: a process of punching, with pressing, a plurality of terminal sections to be coupled, the process being a press process of simultaneously pressing and punching two terminal sections adjacent to each other among the plurality of terminal sections to be coupled to form different recesses in the two terminal sections;
wherein in the press process, outer side surfaces on opposite side of inner side surfaces facing each other of the adjacent two terminal sections are hollowed to form the different recesses.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TRUC T NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-2011. The examiner can normally be reached monday-friday (7-4).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christopher M. Koehler can be reached at 5712723560. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/TRUC T NGUYEN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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