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 .
Status of the Claims
Claims 1-20 set forth in the amendment submitted 2/04/2026 form the basis of the present examination.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see remarks page 6-10, filed on 2/04/2026, regarding the rejection(s) of Claim(s) 1-20 under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by PIERRE ROUSSEAU et al. (Hereinafter, “Pierre”) in the Patent Publication Number FR2673727A1 (Publication Date 1992-09-11) have been fully considered as follows:
Applicant’s Argument:
Applicant argues on page 8-10, of the remarks, filed on 2/04/2026, regarding the rejection(s) of Claim(s) 1-20 under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by PIERRE ROUSSEAU et al. (Hereinafter, “Pierre”) in the Patent Publication Number FR2673727A1 (Publication Date 1992-09-11), that “In contrast to amended claim 1 of the present application, the inner wing 7 of Pierre does not extend outward away from the housing 2. Instead, the inner wing 7 is entirely contained within the housing 2. To the extent the housing 2 of Pierre is not considered part of the "meter body" (which the Office Action refers to as Pierre's parallelepiped housing 31), the inner wing 7 and the outer wing 8 are not electrically coupled within the meter body. If the housing 2 of Pierre is instead considered part of the meter body, it follows that the inner wing 7 does not extend outward away from the meter body, as claimed in the present application.
For at least the foregoing reasons, Pierre does not disclose or suggest "a fixed jaw comprising a first leg and a second leg that are electrically coupled to each other within the meter body, wherein both the first leg and the second leg extend outward away from the meter body," as claimed in amended claim 1 (Remarks-Page 8).
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Applicant submits that Pierre's rotation axis 15 is not coupled to the inner wing 7 of the fixed arm 5 at a rotation axis outside of the meter body. Therefore, Pierre does not disclose or suggest "a movable jaw that is coupled to the first leg of the fixed jaw at a rotation axis outside of the meter body," as claimed. Consequently, Pierre does not anticipate amended claim 1.
Pierre also does not anticipate amended claim 16, which recites a "measuring section including first and second legs of a fixed jaw that are electrically coupled to each other within a meter body of the clamp meter and extend outward away from the meter body, wherein actuating the movable jaw includes rotating the movable jaw about a rotation axis on the movable jaw outside of the meter body between a closed position and an open position." Similar reasons for patentability discussed with respect to claim 1 applies to claim 16.
Applicant submits that claims 1 and 16 are patentable over Pierre. Withdrawal of the Section 102 rejection of claims 1 and 16 is warranted.
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For example, claim 9 recites "wherein the cam pair is comprised of a pin that couples the movable jaw to a mechanical linkage of the actuator that urges movement of the pin when the actuator is moved," and claim 10 recites "wherein the actuator includes a sliding switch, and the pin of the cam pair is positioned within a slot in the mechanical linkage such that linear motion of (Remarks-Page 9) the sliding switch causes the mechanical linkage to exert a force on the pin that urges the pin to move relative to the rotation pair." These features are neither described nor suggested by Pierre. This includes the references to the slot 25, the long wing 27, the short wing 28, and the T-shaped rail 22 described by Pierre, which are not applicable to the features of claims 9 and 10. Similar reasoning also applies to claim 18.
Additionally, amended claim 13 recites "wherein the first and second legs of the fixed jaw are spaced apart from each other and parallel to each other, and form a fork that is sized to receive an electrical conductor when the movable jaw is in an open position," which is not disclosed or suggested by Pierre. Similar reasoning also applies to claim 20 (Remarks-Page 10).”
Examiner Response:
Applicant’s arguments, see remarks page 8-10, of the remarks, filed on 2/04/2026, regarding the rejection(s) of Claim(s) 1-20 under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by PIERRE ROUSSEAU et al. (Hereinafter, “Pierre”) in the Patent Publication Number FR2673727A1 (Publication Date 1992-09-11), as applied to the Non-Final office Action mailed on 1/20/2026 have been fully considered and is persuasive. Because applicant has amended the claims and added the limitation in claim 1, “a fixed jaw comprising a first leg and a second leg are electrically coupled to each other within the meter body, wherein both the first leg and the second leg extend outward away from the meter body; and a movable jaw that is rotationally coupled to the first leg of the fixed jaw at a rotation axis outside of the meter body” and in claim 16, “the measuring section including first and second legs of a fixed jaw that are electrically coupled to each other within a meter body of the clamp meter and extend outward away from the meter body, wherein actuating the movable jaw includes rotating the movable jaw about a rotation axis on the movable jaw outside of the meter body between a closed position and an open position” which overcomes the present rejection of Claim(s) 1 and 16 under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by PIERRE ROUSSEAU et al. (Hereinafter, “Pierre”) in the Patent Publication Number FR2673727A1 (Publication Date 1992-09-11), as applied to the Non-Final office Action mailed on 1/20/2026. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. Belfer et al. (Hereinafter, “Belfer”) in the US Patent Number US 4258348 A is applied to meet at least the amended limitation of claims 1 and 16. Therefore claims 1-20 are now rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over PIERRE ROUSSEAU et al. (Hereinafter, “Pierre”) in the Patent Publication Number FR2673727A1 (Publication Date 1992-09-11) in view of Belfer et al. (Hereinafter, “Belfer”) in the US Patent Number US 4258348 A as set forth below. Applicant’s argument is moot in view of newly applied combination of references. See the rejection set forth below.
Applicant’s argument regarding dependent claim 9 and 10 is not persuasive. Claim 9 recites, “the cam pair is comprised of a pin [21] (Leg 20 has a convex surface 21, opposite a flat surface 29; Paragraph [0008] Line 13) that couples the movable jaw [10] to a mechanical linkage of the actuator that urges movement of the pin when the actuator [33]”. Pierre also discloses the limitation however Pierre did not use the word pin. Applicant did not explain which limitation is not disclosed by Pierre. Applicant only mentioned in the response that, “these features (all the limitation in the dependent claim) neither described or suggested by Pierre. Therefore, applicant’s argument is not persuasive. Similarly, applicant’s argument regarding dependent claims 10 and 18 is also not persuasive as set forth below.
Applicant’s argument regarding dependent claims 13 and 20 is persuasive. However, applicant has amended the claims therefore claims 13 and 20 are now rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over PIERRE ROUSSEAU et al. (Hereinafter, “Pierre”) in the Patent Publication Number FR2673727A1 (Publication Date 1992-09-11) in view of Belfer et al. (Hereinafter, “Belfer”) in the US Patent Number US 4258348 A as set forth below. Applicant’s argument is moot in view of newly applied combination of references. See the rejection set forth below.
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.
Claim(s) 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over PIERRE ROUSSEAU et al. (Hereinafter, “Pierre”) in the Patent Publication Number FR2673727A1 (Publication Date 1992-09-11) in view of Belfer et al. (Hereinafter, “Belfer”) in the US Patent Number US 4258348 A.
Regarding claim 1, Pierre teaches a clamp meter (Figure 1) (The invention relates to an ammeter clamp comprising a housing, two arms; Paragraph [0007] Line 1; Figures 1 to 3 represent an ammeter clamp 1 known in itself and comprising a housing 2; Paragraph [0007] Line 29), comprising:
a meter body [31] (parallelepiped housing 31 as the meter body) (Figure 1 shows an ammeter clamp support 30 comprising an elongated parallelepiped housing 31; Paragraph [0008] Line 26-27); and
a measuring section [30] (Clamp support 30 as the measuring section as it because clamp support 30 functions to measure signal using signal processing unit situated on it) (Advantageously, the clamp support 30 can constitute an electronic signal processing unit for signals from the clamp 1 and include for this purpose a printed circuit board 3 6, adjustment knobs 37 and power supply means 39; Paragraph [0008] Line 38-40) that includes:
a fixed jaw [5] (a fixed arm 5 as the fixed jaw) (A fixed arm 5 of the clamp 1 is generally U-shaped having a base 6, an inner wing 7 and an outer wing 8; Paragraph [0007] Line 30-31),
wherein the fixed jaw [5] includes a first leg [7] (Figure 3: Modified Figure 3 of Pierre below shows the first leg and the second leg; an inner wing 7 is the first leg) and a second leg [8] (outer wing 8 as the second leg) extending from the meter body [31] (A fixed arm 5 of the clamp 1 is generally U-shaped having a base 6, an inner wing 7 and an outer wing 8, the base and the inner wing 7 being housed respectively in the base portion 3 and the head portion 4 of the housing 2 while the outer wing 8 protrudes, from the edge position 4; Paragraph [0007] Line 30-33; Figure 3: Modified Figure 3 of Pierre below shows the fixed jaw [5] includes a first leg [7] extending from the meter body [31]); and
a movable jaw [10] (movable arm 10 as the movable jaw) coupled to the first leg [7] of the fixed jaw [5] (A movable arm 10 of the clamp 1 is generally straight in shape and has two ends 11, 12 arranged to bear against two ends 13, 14 of the fixed arm 5; Paragraph [0007] Line 34-35; two arms of which at least one arm, called movable, is mounted in the housing so as to be able to pivot, relative to the other arm mounted fixed in the housing, between a closed position in which the two arms form a closed loop and an open position in which they form an open loop; Paragraph [0007] Line 1-4),
wherein the fixed jaw [5] in cooperation with the movable jaw [10] forms an electrical measuring loop (two arms (5, 10) of which at least one so-called movable arm (10) is mounted in the housing so as to be able to pivot, relative to the other arm (5) mounted fixed in the housing, between a closed position in which the two arms form a closed loop; Paragraph [0006] Line 1-4) for measuring an electrical characteristic of an electrical conductor [41] in Figure 3 without galvanically contacting the electrical conductor [41] (Advantageously, the clamp support 30 can constitute an electronic signal processing unit for signals from the clamp 1 and include for this purpose a printed circuit board 3 6, adjustment knobs 37 and power supply means 39. In use, an operator, seeking to measure the intensity of a current passing through a conductor 41 extending linearly, places the clamp 1 around it; Paragraph [0008] Line 38-42).
Pierre fails to teach that the fixed jaw includes a first leg and a second leg that are electrically coupled to each other within the meter body, wherein both the first leg and the second leg extend outward away from the meter body; and a movable jaw that is coupled to the first leg of the fixed jaw at a rotation axis outside of the meter body.
Belfer teaches a current transformer used to measure the current flowing through a conductor (Column 1 Line 44-46),
the fixed jaw includes a first leg [17] and a second leg [17] that are electrically coupled to each other within the meter body [16] (end plate 16 here as the meter body) (a pair of end plates 16 secured to opposed sides of the medial portion of the U configuration. The housing assembly also includes a quartet of housing members 17 which are assembled in confronting pairs to define the legs of the portion 11 of the transformer; Column 3 Line 7-12),
wherein both the first leg [17] and the second leg [17] extend outward away from the meter body [16] (Figure 1 and Figure 2: Modified Figure 1 and 2 of Belfer below shows both the first leg [17] and the second leg [17] extend outward away from the meter body [16]); and
the movable jaw [12] (closure member 12 as the movable jaw) (As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transformer includes a generally U-shaped housing assembly 11, and a closure member 12 extending across the distal ends of the U-shaped housing assembly; Column 2 Line 67-68 & Column 3 Line 1-3) that is coupled to the first leg [17] of the fixed jaw at a rotation axis outside of the meter body [16] (Figure 1 and Figure 2: Modified Figure 1 and 2 of Belfer below shows the movable jaw coupled to the first leg [17] of the fixed jaw at a rotation axis outside of the meter body [16]); wherein the fixed jaw [17] in cooperation with the movable jaw [12] forms an electrical measuring loop (Figure 1 shows the fixed jaw [17] in cooperation with the movable jaw [12] forms an electrical measuring loop) for measuring an electrical characteristic of an electrical conductor [14] without galvanically contacting the electrical conductor [13] (As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transformer includes a generally U-shaped housing assembly 11, and a closure member 12 extending across the distal ends of the U-shaped housing assembly. The U-shaped housing assembly defines a gap 13 through which a current carrying conductor 14 may be disposed so that the current in the conductor 14 may be measured; Column 2 Line 67-68 & Column 3 Line 1-6). The purpose of doing so is to provide a substantially constant and uniform flux path therethrough, as well as a shorting device to ground any voltage surges which might occur when the instrument is first secured about a conductor, to cancel any proximity effect caused by the conductor being disposed closer to one of the legs of the core, to permit the closure member core portion to be translated directly toward the distal ends of the U-shaped core portion, rather than being pivoted into engagement, to provide constant flux path throughout the closed loop of the core, so that no substantial errors are introduced thereby.
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Figure 1 and Figure 2: Modified Figure 1 and 2 of Belfer
It would have obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify the measuring section of Pierre with the measuring section of Belfer, because Belfer teaches to include a first leg and a second leg electrically coupled to each other within the meter body and to extend both the first leg and the second leg outward away from the meter body provides a substantially constant and uniform flux path therethrough, as well as a shorting device to ground any voltage surges which might occur when the instrument is first secured about a conductor.(Column 1 Line 47-51), cancels any proximity effect caused by the conductor being disposed closer to one of the legs of the core (Column 1 Line 60-62), permits the closure member core portion to be translated directly toward the distal ends of the U-shaped core portion, rather than being pivoted into engagement (Column 2 Line 6-9), provides constant flux path throughout the closed loop of the core, so that no substantial errors are introduced thereby (Column 2 Line 12-14).
Regarding claim 2, Pierre teaches a clamp meter,
wherein the movable jaw [10] is configured to rotate about the rotation axis between a closed position (Figure 2) and an open position (Figure 3) (Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged views of the clamp of Figure 1, one showing the clamp closed, and the other the clamp open; Paragraph [0007] Line 26-27; two arms of which at least one arm, called movable, is mounted in the housing so as to be able to pivot, relative to the other arm mounted fixed in the housing, between a closed position in which the two arms form a closed loop and an open position in which they form an open loop; Paragraph [0007] Line 1-4), and
when the movable jaw [10] is in the open position (Figure 3), the measuring section [30] is able to receive the electrical conductor [41] between the first leg [7] and the second leg [8] of the fixed jaw [5] (Advantageously, the clamp support 30 can constitute an electronic signal processing unit for signals from the clamp 1 and include for this purpose a printed circuit board 3 6, adjustment knobs 37 and power supply means 39. In use, an operator, seeking to measure the intensity of a current passing through a conductor 41 extending linearly, places the clamp 1 around it; Paragraph [0008] Line 38-42), and
when the movable jaw [10] is in the closed position (figure 2), the movable
jaw [10] extends from the first leg [8] to the second leg [7] (The arms 5, 10 of the clamp, which are circular in section, have flat surfaces at their ends 11 to 14, intended to be applied to one another. The axis 15 is located on a line 16 5 perpendicular to the flat surfaces of the ends 12, 14 of the branches and passing through a point 17 of contact between these flat surfaces, furthest from the opposite ends 11, 13 of the branches. Thus, the ends 12, 14 can bear properly on each other; Paragraph [0008] Line 1-6; when the movable jaw 10 is in closed position flat surface 11 of the movable jaw extends to the flat surface 13 of the fixed jaw 5 in one side and in another side the flat surface 12 of the movable jaw 10 extends to the flat surface 14 of the fixed jaw 5).
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Figure 3: Modified Figure 3 of Pierre
Pierre fails to teach that the rotation axis outside of the meter body.
Belfer teaches a current transformer used to measure the current flowing through a conductor (Column 1 Line 44-46),
wherein the rotation axis outside of the meter body (Figure 1 and Figure 2: Modified Figure 1 and 2 of Belfer above shows the rotation axis outside of the meter body [16]). The purpose of doing so is to provide a substantially constant and uniform flux path therethrough, as well as a shorting device to ground any voltage surges which might occur when the instrument is first secured about a conductor, to cancel any proximity effect caused by the conductor being disposed closer to one of the legs of the core, to permit the closure member core portion to be translated directly toward the distal ends of the U-shaped core portion, rather than being pivotted into engagement, to provide constant flux path throughout the closed loop of the core, so that no substantial errors are introduced thereby.
It would have obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Pierre in view of Belfer, because Belfer teaches to have the rotation axis outside of the meter body provides a substantially constant and uniform flux path therethrough, as well as a shorting device to ground any voltage surges which might occur when the instrument is first secured about a conductor.(Column 1 Line 47-51), cancels any proximity effect caused by the conductor being disposed closer to one of the legs of the core (Column 1 Line 60-62), permits the closure member core portion to be translated directly toward the distal ends of the U-shaped core portion, rather than being pivoted into engagement (Column 2 Line 6-9), provides constant flux path throughout the closed loop of the core, so that no substantial errors are introduced thereby (Column 2 Line 12-14).
Regarding claim 3, Pierre fails to teach a clamp meter, wherein the measuring section has an overall width when the movable jaw is in the closed position, and the overall width of the measuring section is maintained when the movable jaw is rotated to the open position.
Belfer teaches a current transformer used to measure the current flowing through a conductor (Column 1 Line 44-46),
wherein the measuring section has an overall width when the movable jaw [12] is in the closed position (Figure 1: Modified Figure 1 of Belfer above shows the measuring section has an overall width when the movable jaw [12] is in the closed position), and the overall width of the measuring section is maintained when the movable jaw is rotated to the open position (Figure 2: Modified Figure 2 of Belfer above shows the overall width of the measuring section when the movable jaw 12 is rotated to the open position and from Figure 1: Modified Figure 1 of Belfer above it is shown that the overall width of the measuring section is maintained when the movable jaw is rotated to the open position). The purpose of doing so is to provide a substantially constant and uniform flux path therethrough, as well as a shorting device to ground any voltage surges which might occur when the instrument is first secured about a conductor, to cancel any proximity effect caused by the conductor being disposed closer to one of the legs of the core, to permit the closure member core portion to be translated directly toward the distal ends of the U-shaped core portion, rather than being pivotted into engagement, to provide constant flux path throughout the closed loop of the core, so that no substantial errors are introduced thereby.
It would have obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify the measuring section of Pierre with the measuring section of Belfer, because Belfer teaches to maintain the overall width of the measuring section when the movable jaw is rotated to the open position provides a substantially constant and uniform flux path therethrough, as well as a shorting device to ground any voltage surges which might occur when the instrument is first secured about a conductor.(Column 1 Line 47-51), cancels any proximity effect caused by the conductor being disposed closer to one of the legs of the core (Column 1 Line 60-62), permits the closure member core portion to be translated directly toward the distal ends of the U-shaped core portion, rather than being pivoted into engagement (Column 2 Line 6-9), provides constant flux path throughout the closed loop of the core, so that no substantial errors are introduced thereby (Column 2 Line 12-14).
Regarding claim 4, Pierre teaches a clamp meter,
wherein the rotation axis is defined at a first end of the movable jaw (Figure 3: Modified Figure 3 of Pierre above shows the rotation axis is defined at a first end of the movable jaw), and
a second end of the movable jaw abuts the second leg of the fixed jaw when the movable jaw is in the closed position (Figure 2 and Figure 3: Modified Figure 3 of Pierre above shows a second end of the movable jaw abuts the second leg of the fixed jaw when the movable jaw is in the closed position), and
wherein the movable jaw [10] is biased towards the closed Position (A movable arm 10 of the clamp 1 is generally straight in shape and has two ends 11, 12 arranged to bear against two ends 13, 14 of the fixed arm 5; Paragraph [00078] Line 34-35; Advantageously, said means of operation include a leg extending one end of the movable arm, the movable arm pivoting around an axis located between said end and said leg; Paragraph [0007] Line 17-19; Figure 3: Modified Figure 3 of Pierre above shows the movable jaw is biased towards the closed Position and the movable jaw is closed shown in Figure 2).
Regarding claim 5, Pierre teaches a clamp meter,
wherein the movable jaw [10] is rotationally coupled to the first leg [7] of the fixed jaw [5] at a distal end [14] of the first leg [7] (A movable arm 10 of the clamp 1 is generally straight in shape and has two ends 11, 12 arranged to bear against two ends 13, 14 of the fixed arm 5; Paragraph [0007] Line 35-36; The axis 15 is located on a line 16 5 perpendicular to the flat surfaces of the ends 12, 14 of the branches and passing through a point 17 of contact between these flat surfaces, furthest from the opposite ends 11, 13 of the branches. Thus, the ends 12, 14 can bear properly on each other; Paragraph [0008] Line 3-6; Figure 3: Modified Figure 3 of Pierre above shows the movable jaw [10] is rotationally coupled to the first leg [7] of the fixed jaw [5] at a distal end [14] of the first leg [7]).
Regarding claim 6, Pierre teaches a clamp meter, further comprising
an actuator [33] (push button 33 as the actuator as it moves the movable jaw between a closed position and an open position) (Claim 6.- Clamp according to claim 5, which includes 10 a push button (33) mounted in the housing (2) so as to be able to slide and cooperating with said leg (20)) configured to move the movable jaw [10] between a closed position (Figure 2) (In the innermost position of the push button 33 shown in Figure 1, the free end of its finger 35 is very close to the leg 20. 30The rail 22 and the groove 32 have means for mutual electrical contact to ensure an electrical connection between the clamp 1 and the clamp support 30; Paragraph [0008] Line 35-38) and an open position (Figure 3) (To do this, he manually moves the push button 33 so as to push the leg 20 towards the inside 5 of the clamp 1, which has the effect of moving the movable arm 10 away from the fixed arm 5; Paragraph [0008] Line 43-45; Once the operator has released the push button 33, the leaf spring 2 6 returns the movable arm 10 to its rest position and pushes the push button back to its innermost position; Paragraph [0008] Line 48-50), wherein:
the movable jaw [10] is rotationally coupled to the first leg [7] of the fixed jaw [5] by a rotation pair [15] that defines a rotation axis [line 16] on the movable jaw [10] (A movable arm 10 of the clamp 1 is generally straight in shape and has two ends 11, 12 arranged to bear against two ends 13, 14 of the fixed arm 5. According to the invention, it is pivotally mounted, in the vicinity of its end 12, around an axis 15 fixed to one end of the base portion 3 of the housing 2 and extending perpendicularly to a plane defined by the two arms 5, 10; Paragraph [0007] Line 34-38), and
a cam pair [20] (leg 20 as the cam pair) (In the vicinity of the end 12 of the movable arm 10 of the pivoting clamp, the arm carries a leg 20 extending in the plane generally defined by the arms, arranged inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the movable arm 10 and
projecting outwards from the housing, in a direction opposite to the axis 15; Paragraph [0008] Line 9-12) couples the movable jaw [10] to the actuator [ 33] to convert motion of the actuator [33] to rotation of the movable jaw [10] about the rotation axis [16] (To do this, he manually moves the push button 33 so as to push the leg 20 towards the inside 5 of the clamp 1, which has the effect of moving the movable arm 10 away from the fixed arm 5. In this operation, the movement of the leg 20 produces two effects: the short wing 28 of the leaf spring 26 is folded towards its long wing 29, and the two wings are folded together inside the housing 2 of the clamp towards a final position illustrated in figure 3. In this final position, a free end of the leg 20 comes to rest against the stop 19. Once the operator has released the push button 33, the leaf spring 2 6 returns the movable arm 10 to its rest position and pushes the push button back to its innermost position; Paragraph [0008] Line 43-50).
Regarding claim 7, Pierre teaches a clamp meter,
wherein the rotation pair [15] rotationally couples the movable jaw [10] to the first leg [7] of the fixed jaw [5] at a distal end of the first leg [7] (Figure 2 shows the rotation pair [15] rotationally couples the movable jaw [10] to the first leg [7] of the fixed jaw [5] at a distal end of the first leg [7]), and in the closed position the movable jaw [10] is positioned transverse to the first [7] and second [8] legs of the fixed jaw [5] (A movable arm 10 of the clamp 1 is generally straight in shape and has two ends 11, 12 arranged to bear against two ends 13, 14 of the fixed arm 5. According to the invention, it is pivotally mounted, in the vicinity of its end 12, around an axis 15 fixed to one end of the base portion 3 of the housing 2 and extending perpendicularly to a plane defined by the two arms 5, 10; Paragraph [0007] Line 34-38; Figure 2 shows in the closed position the movable jaw [10] is positioned transverse to the first [7] and second [8] legs of the fixed jaw [5]).
Regarding claim 8, Pierre teaches a clamp meter,
wherein the cam pair [20] cooperates with the rotation pair to convert linear motion of the actuator [33] to rotation of the movable jaw [10] about the rotation axis [16] (In the vicinity of the end 12 of the movable arm 10 of the pivoting clamp, the arm carries a leg 20 extending in the plane generally defined by the arms, arranged inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the movable arm 10 and projecting outwards from the housing, in a direction opposite to the axis 15; Paragraph [0008] Line 9-12; To do this, he manually moves the push button 33 so as to push the leg 20 towards the inside 5 of the clamp 1, which has the effect of moving the movable arm 10 away from the fixed arm 5. In this operation, the movement of the leg 20 produces two effects: the short wing 28 of the leaf spring 26 is folded towards its long wing 29, and the two wings are folded together inside the housing 2 of the clamp towards a final position illustrated in figure 3. In this final position, a free end of the leg 20 comes to rest against the stop 19. Once the operator has released the push button 33, the leaf spring 2 6 returns the movable arm 10 to its rest position and pushes the push button back to its innermost position; Paragraph [0008] Line 43-50; Figure 1 and 2 shows the cam pair [20] cooperates with the rotation pair to convert linear motion of the actuator [33] to rotation of the movable jaw [10] about the rotation axis [16]).
Regarding claim 9, Pierre teaches a clamp meter,
wherein the cam pair is comprised of a pin [21] (Leg 20 has a convex surface 21, opposite a flat surface 29; Paragraph [0008] Line 13) that couples the movable jaw [10] to a mechanical linkage of the actuator that urges movement of the pin when the actuator [33] is moved (One free end of the long wing 27 extends inside the slot 25, while its short wing 28 applies, when the claw is at rest (figure 2), against the flat surface 29 of the leg 20 and tends to rotate the movable branch 10 towards the fixed branch 5; Paragraph [0008] Line 18-20; The finger 35 is arranged inside the housing 31 and extends in the sliding direction of the push button 33 so that, when the clamp 1 is mounted on the clamp support 30, it faces the domed surface 21 of the leg 20 of the clamp; Paragraph [0008] Line 31-33).
Regarding claim 10, Pierre teaches a clamp meter,
wherein the actuator includes a sliding switch [33] (push button 33 as the sliding switch of the actuator) (Claim 6.- Clamp according to claim 5, which includes 10 a push button (33) mounted in the housing (2) so as to be able to slide and cooperating with said leg (20)), and the pin of the cam pair is positioned within a slot in the mechanical linkage such that linear motion of the sliding switch causes the mechanical linkage to exert a force on the pin that urges the pin to move relative to the rotation pair (Leg 20 has a convex surface 21, opposite a flat surface 29. 25The base portion 3 of the housing 2 externally carries a T-shaped rail 22 extending along this portion. A side wall 23 of the base portion 3 of the housing 2 has a recess 24 through which the tab 20 passes, and a slot 25 extending in a plane of this wall and dividing it into a thickness. This slot opens into the recess 24, in a region of it furthest from axis 15. A leaf spring 26, made from a sheet of metal, has a V shape comprising a long wing 27 and a short wing 28. One free end of the long wing 27 extends inside the slot 25, while its short wing 28 applies, when the claw is at rest (figure 2), against the flat surface 29 of the leg 20 and tends to rotate the movable branch 10 towards the fixed branch 5; Paragraph [0008] Line 13-20; The finger 35 is arranged inside the housing 31 and extends in the sliding direction of the push button 33 so that, when the clamp 1 is mounted on the clamp support 30, it faces the domed surface 21 of the leg 20 of the clamp; Paragraph [0008] Line 31-33).
Regarding claim 11, Pierre teaches a clamp meter,
further comprising a spring element [26] (leaf spring 26 as the spring element) (A leaf spring 26, made from a sheet of metal, has a V shape comprising a long wing 27 and a short wing 28; Paragraph [0008] Line 17-18) operably connected to the actuator to bias the movable jaw [10] toward the closed position (Figure 2) (A leaf spring 26, made from a sheet of metal, has a V shape comprising a long wing 27 and a short wing 28. One free end of the long wing 27 extends inside the slot 25, while its short wing 28 applies, when the claw is at rest (figure 2), against the flat surface 29 of the leg 20 and tends to rotate the movable branch 10 towards the fixed branch 5; Paragraph [0008] Line 17-21).
Regarding claim 12, Pierre teaches a clamp meter,
further comprising a slider pair [27, 28] (short wing and long wing as the slider pair) comprised of a pin [15] and corresponding slot [25] that guides linear motion of the actuator with respect to the fixed jaw [5] (A leaf spring 26, made from a sheet of metal, has a V shape comprising a long wing 27 and a short wing 28. One free end of the long wing 27 extends inside the slot 25, while its short wing 28 applies, when the claw is at rest (figure 2), against the flat surface 29 of the leg 20 and tends to rotate the movable branch 10 towards the fixed branch 5. Optionally, the long wing 27 can be fixed in the slot 25; Paragraph [0008] Line 17-22; Figure 2 shows a slider pair [27, 28] (short wing and long wing as the slider pair) comprised of a pin [15] and corresponding slot [25] that guides linear motion of the actuator with respect to the fixed jaw [5]).
Regarding claim 13, Pierre teaches a clamp meter,
wherein the first [7] and second legs [8] of the fixed jaw [5] are spaced apart from each other and form a fork that is sized to receive an electrical conductor [41] when the movable jaw [10] is in an open position (Advantageously, the clamp support 30 can constitute an electronic signal processing unit for signals from the clamp 1 and include for this purpose a printed circuit board 3 6, adjustment knobs 37 and power supply means 39. In use, an operator, seeking to measure the intensity of a current passing through a conductor 41 extending linearly, places the clamp 1 around it; Paragraph [0008] Line 38-42; Figure 3 (a): Modified Figure 3 of Pierre below shows the first [7] and second legs [8] of the fixed jaw [5] are spaced apart from each other and form a fork that is sized to receive an electrical conductor when the movable jaw is in an open position).
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Figure 3 (a): Modified Figure 3 of Pierre
However, Pierre fails to teach that the first and second legs of the fixed jaw are parallel to each other.
Belfer teaches a current transformer used to measure the current flowing through a conductor (Column 1 Line 44-46),
the first [17] and second legs [17] of the fixed jaw are parallel to each other (a pair of end plates 16 secured to opposed sides of the medial portion of the U configuration. The housing assembly also includes a quartet of housing members 17 which are assembled in confronting pairs to define the legs of the portion 11 of the transformer; Column 3 Line 7-12; Figure 1 and Figure 2: Modified Figure 1 and 2 of Belfer above shows the first [17] and second legs [17] of the fixed jaw are parallel to each other). The purpose of doing so is to provide a substantially constant and uniform flux path therethrough, as well as a shorting device to ground any voltage surges which might occur when the instrument is first secured about a conductor, to cancel any proximity effect caused by the conductor being disposed closer to one of the legs of the core, to permit the closure member core portion to be translated directly toward the distal ends of the U-shaped core portion, rather than being pivotted into engagement, to provide constant flux path throughout the closed loop of the core, so that no substantial errors are introduced thereby.
It would have obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Pierre in view of Belfer, because Belfer teaches to have the first and second legs of the fixed jaw parallel to each other provides a substantially constant and uniform flux path therethrough, as well as a shorting device to ground any voltage surges which might occur when the instrument is first secured about a conductor.(Column 1 Line 47-51), cancels any proximity effect caused by the conductor being disposed closer to one of the legs of the core (Column 1 Line 60-62), permits the closure member core portion to be translated directly toward the distal ends of the U-shaped core portion, rather than being pivoted into engagement (Column 2 Line 6-9), provides constant flux path throughout the closed loop of the core, so that no substantial errors are introduced thereby (Column 2 Line 12-14).
Regarding claim 14, Pierre teaches a clamp meter,
wherein the first [7] and second [8] legs of the fixed jaw [5] form a U-shaped fork (Figure 3 (a): Modified Figure 3 of Pierre above shows the first [7] and second [8] legs of the fixed jaw form a U-shaped fork).
Regarding claim 15, Pierre teaches a clamp meter,
wherein a first end [12] of the movable jaw [10] is rotationally coupled to an end [14] of the first leg [7] of the fixed jaw [5], and when the movable jaw is in a closed position (Figure 3) (A movable arm 10 of the clamp 1 is generally straight in shape and has two ends 11, 12 arranged to bear against two ends 13, 14 of the fixed arm 5; Paragraph [0007] Line 35-36; The axis 15 is located on a line 16 5 perpendicular to the flat surfaces of the ends 12, 14 of the branches and passing through a point 17 of contact between these flat surfaces, furthest from the opposite ends 11, 13 of the branches. Thus, the ends 12, 14 can bear properly on each other; Paragraph [0008] Line 3-6; Figure 3: Modified Figure 3 of Pierre above shows a first end [12] of the movable jaw [10] is rotationally coupled to an end [14] of the first leg [7] of the fixed jaw [5], and when the movable jaw is in a closed position),
a second end [11] of the movable jaw [10] is positioned against an end of the second leg [13] of fixed jaw [5] such that (the movable jaw [10] bridges the first [7] and second legs [8] of the fixed jaw [5] (A movable arm 10 of the clamp 1 is generally straight in shape and has two ends 11, 12 arranged to bear against two ends 13, 14 of the fixed arm 5; Paragraph [0007] Line 35-36; The axis 15 is located on a line 16 5 perpendicular to the flat surfaces of the ends 12, 14 of the branches and passing through a point 17 of contact between these flat surfaces, furthest from the opposite ends 11, 13 of the branches. Thus, the ends 12, 14 can bear properly on each other; Paragraph [0008] Line 3-6; Figure 3: Modified Figure 3 of Pierre above shows a second end [11] of the movable jaw [10] is positioned against an end of the second leg [13] of fixed jaw [5] such that (the movable jaw [10] bridges the first [7] and second legs [8] of the fixed jaw [5]).
Regarding claim 16, Pierre teaches a method for electrical measurement using a clamp meter (Figure 1) (The invention relates to an ammeter clamp comprising a housing, two arms; Paragraph [0007] Line 1; Figures 1 to 3 represent an ammeter clamp 1 known in itself and comprising a housing 2; Paragraph [0007] Line 29; In use, an operator, seeking to measure the intensity of a current passing through a conductor 41 extending linearly, places the clamp 1 around it; Paragraph [0008] Line 40-42), comprising:
actuating a movable jaw [10] (movable arm 10 as the movable jaw) (A movable arm 10 of the clamp 1 is generally straight in shape and has two ends 11, 12 arranged to bear against two ends 13, 14 of the fixed arm 5; Paragraph [0007] Line 34-35) of a clamp meter to open (Figure 3) a measuring section [30] (Clamp support 30 as the measuring section as it because clamp support 30 functions to measure signal using signal processing unit situated on it) (Advantageously, the clamp support 30 can constitute an electronic signal processing unit for signals from the clamp 1 and include for this purpose a printed circuit board 3 6, adjustment knobs 37 and power supply means 39; Paragraph [0008] Line 38-40) of the clamp meter [1] (two arms of which at least one arm, called movable, is mounted in the housing so as to be able to pivot, relative to the other arm mounted fixed in the housing, between a closed position in which the two arms form a closed loop and an open position in which they form an open loop; Paragraph [0007] Line 1-4),
the measuring section [30] (Clamp support 30 as the measuring section as it because clamp support 30 functions to measure signal using signal processing unit situated on it) (Advantageously, the clamp support 30 can constitute an electronic signal processing unit for signals from the clamp 1 and include for this purpose a printed circuit board 3 6, adjustment knobs 37 and power supply means 39; Paragraph [0008] Line 38-40) including first [7] and second legs [8] (Figure 3: Modified Figure 3 of Pierre above shows the first leg and the second leg; an inner wing 7 is the first leg, outer wing 8 as the second leg) of a fixed jaw [5] (a fixed arm 5 as the fixed jaw) (A fixed arm 5 of the clamp 1 is generally U-shaped having a base 6, an inner wing 7 and an outer wing 8; Paragraph [0007] Line 30-31) that extend from a meter body [31] (parallelepiped housing 31 as the meter body) (Figure 1 shows an ammeter clamp support 30 comprising an elongated parallelepiped housing 31; Paragraph [0008] Line 26-27) of the clamp meter(A fixed arm 5 of the clamp 1 is generally U-shaped having a base 6, an inner wing 7 and an outer wing 8, the base and the inner wing 7 being housed respectively in the base portion 3 and the head portion 4 of the housing 2 while the outer wing 8 protrudes, from the edge position 4; Paragraph [0007] Line 30-33; Figure 3: Modified Figure 3 of Pierre above shows the fixed jaw [5] includes a first leg [7] extending from the meter body [31]);
wherein actuating the movable jaw [10] includes rotating the movable jaw [10] about a rotation axis [16] on the movable jaw [10] between a closed position (Figure 2) and an open position (Figure 3) (Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged views of the clamp of Figure 1, one showing the clamp closed, and the other the clamp open; Paragraph [0007] Line 26-27; two arms of which at least one arm, called movable, is mounted in the housing so as to be able to pivot, relative to the other arm mounted fixed in the housing, between a closed position in which the two arms form a closed loop and an open position in which they form an open loop; Paragraph [0007] Line 1-4);
receiving an electrical conductor [41] in Figure 3 into the measuring section [30] when the movable jaw [10] is actuated towards or at the open position (Figure 3) (Advantageously, the clamp support 30 can constitute an electronic signal processing unit for signals from the clamp 1 and include for this purpose a printed circuit board 3 6, adjustment knobs 37 and power supply means 39. In use, an operator, seeking to measure the intensity of a current passing through a conductor 41 extending linearly, places the clamp 1 around it; Paragraph [0008] Line 38-42; two arms (5, 10) of which at least one so-called movable arm (10) is mounted in the housing so as to be able to pivot, relative to the other arm (5) mounted fixed in the housing, between a closed position in which the two arms form a closed loop; Paragraph [0006] Line 1-4),
actuating the movable jaw [10] to the closed position (Figure 2) in which the movable jaw [10] bridges the first [7] and second legs [8] of the fixed jaw [5], and together with the fixed jaw [5], forms a measuring loop around the electrical conductor [41] In Figure 3 in the measuring section (A movable arm 10 of the clamp 1 is generally straight in shape and has two ends 11, 12 arranged to bear against two ends 13, 14 of the fixed arm 5; Paragraph [0007] Line 35-36; The axis 15 is located on a line 16 5 perpendicular to the flat surfaces of the ends 12, 14 of the branches and passing through a point 17 of contact between these flat surfaces, furthest from the opposite ends 11, 13 of the branches. Thus, the ends 12, 14 can bear properly on each other; Paragraph [0008] Line 3-6; Advantageously, the clamp support 30 can constitute an electronic signal processing unit for signals from the clamp 1 and include for this purpose a printed circuit board 3 6, adjustment knobs 37 and power supply means 39. In use, an operator, seeking to measure the intensity of a current passing through a conductor 41 extending linearly, places the clamp 1 around it; Paragraph [0008] Line 38-42); and
measuring an electrical characteristic of the electrical conductor [41] without galvanically contacting the electrical conductor [41] (Figure 3 shows without galvanically contacting) (Advantageously, the clamp support 30 can constitute an electronic signal processing unit for signals from the clamp 1 and include for this purpose a printed circuit board 3 6, adjustment knobs 37 and power supply means 39. In use, an operator, seeking to measure the intensity of a current passing through a conductor 41 extending linearly, places the clamp 1 around it; Paragraph [0008] Line 38-42).
Pierre fails to teach that the fixed jaw includes a first leg and a second leg that are electrically coupled to each other within the meter body, wherein both the first leg and the second leg extend outward away from the meter body; and a movable jaw that is coupled to the first leg of the fixed jaw at a rotation axis outside of the meter body.
Belfer teaches a current transformer used to measure the current flowing through a conductor (Column 1 Line 44-46),
the fixed jaw includes a first leg [17] and a second leg [17] that are electrically coupled to each other within the meter body [16] (end plate 16 here as the meter body) (a pair of end plates 16 secured to opposed sides of the medial portion of the U configuration. The housing assembly also includes a quartet of housing members 17 which are assembled in confronting pairs to define the legs of the portion 11 of the transformer; Column 3 Line 7-12),
wherein both the first leg [17] and the second leg [17] extend outward away from the meter body [16] (Figure 1 and Figure 2: Modified Figure 1 and 2 of Belfer below shows both the first leg [17] and the second leg [17] extend outward away from the meter body [16]); and
the movable jaw [12] (closure member 12 as the movable jaw) (As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transformer includes a generally U-shaped housing assembly 11, and a closure member 12 extending across the distal ends of the U-shaped housing assembly; Column 2 Line 67-68 & Column 3 Line 1-3) that is coupled to the first leg [17] of the fixed jaw at a rotation axis outside of the meter body [16] (Figure 1 and Figure 2: Modified Figure 1 and 2 of Belfer below shows the movable jaw coupled to the first leg [17] of the fixed jaw at a rotation axis outside of the meter body [16]); wherein the fixed jaw [17] in cooperation with the movable jaw [12] forms an electrical measuring loop (Figure 1 shows the fixed jaw [17] in cooperation with the movable jaw [12] forms an electrical measuring loop) for measuring an electrical characteristic of an electrical conductor [14] without galvanically contacting the electrical conductor [13] (As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transformer includes a generally U-shaped housing assembly 11, and a closure member 12 extending across the distal ends of the U-shaped housing assembly. The U-shaped housing assembly defines a gap 13 through which a current carrying conductor 14 may be disposed so that the current in the conductor 14 may be measured; Column 2 Line 67-68 & Column 3 Line 1-6). The purpose of doing so is to provide a substantially constant and uniform flux path therethrough, as well as a shorting device to ground any voltage surges which might occur when the instrument is first secured about a conductor, to cancel any proximity effect caused by the conductor being disposed closer to one of the legs of the core, to permit the closure member core portion to be translated directly toward the distal ends of the U-shaped core portion, rather than being pivoted into engagement, to provide constant flux path throughout the closed loop of the core, so that no substantial errors are introduced thereby.
It would have obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify the measuring section of Pierre with the measuring section of Belfer, because Belfer teaches to include a first leg and a second leg electrically coupled to each other within the meter body and to extend both the first leg and the second leg outward away from the meter body provides a substantially constant and uniform flux path therethrough, as well as a shorting device to ground any voltage surges which might occur when the instrument is first secured about a conductor.(Column 1 Line 47-51), cancels any proximity effect caused by the conductor being disposed closer to one of the legs of the core (Column 1 Line 60-62), permits the closure member core portion to be translated directly toward the distal ends of the U-shaped core portion, rather than being pivoted into engagement (Column 2 Line 6-9), provides constant flux path throughout the closed loop of the core, so that no substantial errors are introduced thereby (Column 2 Line 12-14).
Regarding claim 17, Pierre teaches a method, further comprising
sliding an actuator [33] (push button 33 as the actuator as it moves the movable jaw between a closed position and an open position) (Claim 6.- Clamp according to claim 5, which includes 10 a push button (33) mounted in the housing (2) so as to be able to slide and cooperating with said leg (20)) along a linear path to actuate the movable jaw [10] (Figure 2) (In the innermost position of the push button 33 shown in Figure 1, the free end of its finger 35 is very close to the leg 20. 30The rail 22 and the groove 32 have means for mutual electrical contact to ensure an electrical connection between the clamp 1 and the clamp support 30; Paragraph [0008] Line 35-38) and an open position (Figure 3) (To do this, he manually moves the push button 33 so as to push the leg 20 towards the inside 5 of the clamp 1, which has the effect of moving the movable arm 10 away from the fixed arm 5; Paragraph [0008] Line 43-45; Once the operator has released the push button 33, the leaf spring 2 6 returns the movable arm 10 to its rest position and pushes the push button back to its innermost position; Paragraph [0008] Line 48-50), wherein:
the movable jaw [10] is rotationally coupled to the first leg [7] of the fixed jaw [5] by a rotation pair [15] that defines a rotation axis [line 16] on the movable jaw [10] (A movable arm 10 of the clamp 1 is generally straight in shape and has two ends 11, 12 arranged to bear against two ends 13, 14 of the fixed arm 5. According to the invention, it is pivotally mounted, in the vicinity of its end 12, around an axis 15 fixed to one end of the base portion 3 of the housing 2 and extending perpendicularly to a plane defined by the two arms 5, 10; Paragraph [0007] Line 34-38), and
a cam pair [20] (leg 20 as the cam pair) (In the vicinity of the end 12 of the movable arm 10 of the pivoting clamp, the arm carries a leg 20 extending in the plane generally defined by the arms, arranged inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the movable arm 10 and
projecting outwards from the housing, in a direction opposite to the axis 15; Paragraph [0008] Line 9-12) is coupled to the movable jaw [10] and the actuator [ 33] to convert linear motion of the actuator [33] to rotation of the movable jaw [10] (To do this, he manually moves the push button 33 so as to push the leg 20 towards the inside 5 of the clamp 1, which has the effect of moving the movable arm 10 away from the fixed arm 5. In this operation, the movement of the leg 20 produces two effects: the short wing 28 of the leaf spring 26 is folded towards its long wing 29, and the two wings are folded together inside the housing 2 of the clamp towards a final position illustrated in figure 3. In this final position, a free end of the leg 20 comes to rest against the stop 19. Once the operator has released the push button 33, the leaf spring 2 6 returns the movable arm 10 to its rest position and pushes the push button back to its innermost position; Paragraph [0008] Line 43-50; Figure 3 shows that the actuator [ 33] convert linear motion of the actuator [33] to rotation of the movable jaw [10] by moving the jaw).
Regarding claim 18, Pierre teaches a method,
wherein sliding the actuator [33] along the linear path causes a mechanical linkage coupled to the cam pair [20] to convert the linear motion of the actuator [33] to rotation of the movable jaw [10] about the rotation axis (One free end of the long wing 27 extends inside the slot 25, while its short wing 28 applies, when the claw is at rest (figure 2), against the flat surface 29 of the leg 20 and tends to rotate the movable branch 10 towards the fixed branch 5; Paragraph [0008] Line 18-20; The finger 35 is arranged inside the housing 31 and extends in the sliding direction of the push button 33 so that, when the clamp 1 is mounted on the clamp support 30, it faces the domed surface 21 of the leg 20 of the clamp; Paragraph [0008] Line 31-33),
the cam pair [20] including a pin that couples the movable jaw [10] to the mechanical linkage that urges movement of the pin [21] relative to the rotation pair when the actuator is slid along the linear path (Leg 20 has a convex surface 21, opposite a flat surface 29. 25The base portion 3 of the housing 2 externally carries a T-shaped rail 22 extending along this portion. A side wall 23 of the base portion 3 of the housing 2 has a recess 24 through which the tab 20 passes, and a slot 25 extending in a plane of this wall and dividing it into a thickness. This slot opens into the recess 24, in a region of it furthest from axis 15. A leaf spring 26, made from a sheet of metal, has a V shape comprising a long wing 27 and a short wing 28. One free end of the long wing 27 extends inside the slot 25, while its short wing 28 applies, when the claw is at rest (figure 2), against the flat surface 29 of the leg 20 and tends to rotate the movable branch 10 towards the fixed branch 5; Paragraph [0008] Line 13-20; The finger 35 is arranged inside the housing 31 and extends in the sliding direction of the push button 33 so that, when the clamp 1 is mounted on the clamp support 30, it faces the domed surface 21 of the leg 20 of the clamp; Paragraph [0008] Line 31-33).
Regarding claim 19, Pierre teaches a method,
wherein the rotation pair [15] rotationally couples the movable jaw [10] to the first leg [7] of the fixed jaw [5] at a distal end of the first leg [7] (Figure 2 shows the rotation pair [15] rotationally couples the movable jaw [10] to the first leg [7] of the fixed jaw [5] at a distal end of the first leg [7]), and when the movable jaw [10] is rotated from open position to the closed position, the movable jaw [10] is positioned transverse to the first [7] and second [8] legs of the fixed jaw [5] (A movable arm 10 of the clamp 1 is generally straight in shape and has two ends 11, 12 arranged to bear against two ends 13, 14 of the fixed arm 5. According to the invention, it is pivotally mounted, in the vicinity of its end 12, around an axis 15 fixed to one end of the base portion 3 of the housing 2 and extending perpendicularly to a plane defined by the two arms 5, 10; Paragraph [0007] Line 34-38; Figure 2 shows in the closed position the movable jaw [10] is positioned transverse to the first [7] and second [8] legs of the fixed jaw [5]).
Regarding claim 20, Pierre teaches a method,
further comprising actuating the movable jaw [10] to the closed position to close the measuring section [30] of the clamp meter (Advantageously, the clamp support 30 can constitute an electronic signal processing unit for signals from the clamp 1 and include for this purpose a printed circuit board 3 6, adjustment knobs 37 and power supply means 39. In use, an operator, seeking to measure the intensity of a current passing through a conductor 41 extending linearly, places the clamp 1 around it; Paragraph [0008] Line 38-42),
wherein the first [7] and second legs [8] of the fixed jaw [5] are spaced apart from each other and form a fork sized to receive an electrical conductor [41] when the movable jaw [10] is in an open position (Advantageously, the clamp support 30 can constitute an electronic signal processing unit for signals from the clamp 1 and include for this purpose a printed circuit board 3 6, adjustment knobs 37 and power supply means 39. In use, an operator, seeking to measure the intensity of a current passing through a conductor 41 extending linearly, places the clamp 1 around it; Paragraph [0008] Line 38-42; Figure 3 (a): Modified Figure 3 of Pierre above shows the first [7] and second legs [8] of the fixed jaw [5] are spaced apart from each other and form a fork that is sized to receive an electrical conductor when the movable jaw is in an open position); and
when the movable jaw [10] is actuated to close the measuring section [30], the movable jaw[10] rotates about the rotation axis to the closed position in which the movable jaw abuts the second leg [8] of the fixed jaw [5] and closes the measuring loop (Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged views of the clamp of Figure 1, one showing the clamp closed, and the other the clamp open; Paragraph [0007] Line 26-27; two arms of which at least one arm, called movable, is mounted in the housing so as to be able to pivot, relative to the other arm mounted fixed in the housing, between a closed position in which the two arms form a closed loop and an open position in which they form an open loop; Paragraph [0007] Line 1-4; Figure 2 shows that the rotation axis is defined at a first end [12] of the movable jaw [10], and a second end [11] of the movable jaw [10] abuts the second leg [8] of the fixed jaw [5] and closes the measuring loop).
However, Pierre fails to teach that the first and second legs of the fixed jaw are parallel to each other.
Belfer teaches a current transformer used to measure the current flowing through a conductor (Column 1 Line 44-46),
the first [17] and second legs [17] of the fixed jaw are parallel to each other (a pair of end plates 16 secured to opposed sides of the medial portion of the U configuration. The housing assembly also includes a quartet of housing members 17 which are assembled in confronting pairs to define the legs of the portion 11 of the transformer; Column 3 Line 7-12; Figure 1 and Figure 2: Modified Figure 1 and 2 of Belfer above shows the first [17] and second legs [17] of the fixed jaw are parallel to each other). The purpose of doing so is to provide a substantially constant and uniform flux path therethrough, as well as a shorting device to ground any voltage surges which might occur when the instrument is first secured about a conductor, to cancel any proximity effect caused by the conductor being disposed closer to one of the legs of the core, to permit the closure member core portion to be translated directly toward the distal ends of the U-shaped core portion, rather than being pivotted into engagement, to provide constant flux path throughout the closed loop of the core, so that no substantial errors are introduced thereby.
It would have obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Pierre in view of Belfer, because Belfer teaches to have the first and second legs of the fixed jaw parallel to each other provides a substantially constant and uniform flux path therethrough, as well as a shorting device to ground any voltage surges which might occur when the instrument is first secured about a conductor.(Column 1 Line 47-51), cancels any proximity effect caused by the conductor being disposed closer to one of the legs of the core (Column 1 Line 60-62), permits the closure member core portion to be translated directly toward the distal ends of the U-shaped core portion, rather than being pivoted into engagement (Column 2 Line 6-9), provides constant flux path throughout the closed loop of the core, so that no substantial errors are introduced thereby (Column 2 Line 12-14).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
SHAW STEVEN et al. (WO 2013166428 A1) discloses, “A CURRENT SENSOR HAVING AN INTEGRAL VOLTAGE CLAMP- [0001] The present application relates to a current sensor for measuring the properties of electricity flowing through a power conductor and powering downstream electronic metering devices. [0022] Referring now to Fig. 2, a cross-sectional view of the current sensor 100 case 30 is shown. The current sensor 100 has a split-core made up of a first core segment 15 and a second core segment 25. The first core segment 15 is generally C- shaped and the second core segment 25 is generally U-shaped. The first and second core segments 15, 25 each have at least one end face 22, 24 that, when adjoined, form a completed core. The at least one end faces 22, 24 are adjoined in full and even contact when the cover and base sections 10, 20 of the case 30 are in a closed position. The first core segment 15 is disposed within the cover section 10 of the case 30 and the second core segment 25 is disposed within the base section 20 of the case 30. [0023] The generally curved shape of an inside portion of the first and second core segments 15, 25 forms a passage 42 through the center of the adjoined first and second core segments 15, 25 of the completed core. The passage 42 through the core, allows a conductor 80 such as a power line, a sensor primary input cable, or a transformer secondary output cable to further pass through to an aperture 26 of the integral voltage clamp 50-SHAW STEVEN does not disclose a meter body a first leg and a second leg that are electrically coupled to each other within the meter body, wherein both the first leg and the second leg extend outward away from the meter body.”
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NASIMA MONSUR whose telephone number is (571)272-8497. The examiner can normally be reached 10:00 am-6:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Eman Alkafawi can be reached at (571) 272-4448. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/NASIMA MONSUR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2858
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