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 1-4 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 “the mounting face” in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “the direction” in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “the connector array direction” in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “the medium” in line 8. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation “the opposite side” in line 19. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-4 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
The prior art of record failed to teach the coupling member has coupling portions extending in the connector array direction along the end portions of the housings located in the terminal array direction, the coupling portions have formed therein groove portions which, along with being open on the circuit board side in the direction of connection, are sealed on the opposite side from the circuit board, the stationary housing, in the end portions located in the terminal array direction, has press-fit portions press-fittingly retained in the groove portions, the movable housing, in the end portions located in the terminal array direction, has restricted portions accommodated in the groove portions, and the restricted portions are positioned spaced by a gap from the inner edges of the groove portions in the terminal array direction and in the direction of connection.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
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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