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 .
Response to Amendment
The Amendment filed August 4th, 2026 has been entered. Claims 1-7 are pending.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by Nagatake et al, JP2013058312 [Nagatake].
Regarding claim 5, in order to assemble and use the device, Nagatake would necessarily have performed most of the claimed method of assembling an arc extinguishing chamber (2), comprising:
a vacuum interrupter (2) including:
a movable contact point (3) and a stationary contact point (4);
a movable lead (5) electrically connected to the movable contact point (3);
a stationary lead (6) electrically connected to the stationary contact point (4);
a vacuum container (2) accommodating the movable contact point (3), the stationary contact point (4), and the stationary lead (6) and from one end of which the movable lead (5) protrudes outward; and
a bellows (8) connecting the vacuum container (2) and the movable lead (5) to each other, the bellows (8) configured to extend in a closed state in which the movable contact point (3) and the stationary contact point (4) are in contact with each other, and configured to contract in an open state in which the movable contact point (3) and the stationary contact point (4) are separated from each other;
a contact case (9) having a tubular shape and made of a conductive material;
a contact (15) fixed to an end of the movable lead (5), disposed inside a tube of the contact case (9), and electrically connecting the contact case (9) and the movable lead (5) to each other;
a seal rod connected to the movable lead (5) and configured to cause the movable lead (5) to move; and
a movable-side support (10) having a cylinder shape with a bottom surface in which a hole through which the seal rod passes is formed, the method comprising
a step of coupling the contact case (9) and the movable-side support (10) in the open state.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-4 and 6-7 are allowed.
Applicant's arguments filed August 4th, 2026 were fully considered and are persuasive.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Regarding claim 1, the prior art fails to teach or show, alone or in combination, the claimed An arc extinguishing chamber comprising a vacuum interrupter including an air pressure inside a closed space surrounded and sealed by the bellows, the contact case, and the movable-side support, so as not to cause inflow and outflow of a gas accompanying extension and contraction of the bellows, is atmospheric pressure in the open state, and is less than atmospheric pressure in the closed state.
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.”
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed August 4th, 2026 in regard to claim 5, have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that Nagatake does not disclose or suggest an arc extinguishing chamber, which includes coupling the contact case and the movable-side support in the open state.
Examiner cannot concur with the Applicant, because Nagatake clearly discloses an arc extinguishing chamber (2), which includes coupling the contact case (9) and the movable-side support (10) in an open state, which is functionally and structurally equivalent to Applicant’s claimed limitations, and therefore satisfies all claimed limitations, as recited. Examiner further notes, that it is only logical that Nagatake’s contact case and movable-side support are physically connected, and regardless of whether in the open state or a closed state, will always be connected to each other, thus further meeting the requirement of the claimed invention.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicants are 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 WILLIAM A BOLTON whose telephone number is (571)270-5887. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri: 7:30AM - 5:00PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Renee S Luebke can be reached at 571-272-2009. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/WILLIAM A BOLTON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831
