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 § 102
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 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 11-18, 26, 28, 29 and 31 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Settru et al. (WO 2015097537A1). Settru et al. teaches a junction box 100, comprising a first member 102 having a first locking structure (comprised of rim of 102, 112), a second member 104 couplable to the first member (figure 2) and having second locking structure (comprised of rim of 104, 132, 128), the first locking structure (comprised of rim of 102, 112) and the second locking structure (comprised of rim of 104, 132, 128) configured to assume an interlocked condition to releasably secure the first member 102 and the second member 104 in coupled relation (figure 3), and a connector member 110 selectively mountable to the first member 102 and the second member 104, the connector member 110 configured to operatively engage at least the first locking structure (engages rim of 102; figure 4) of the first member 102 to maintain the first locking structure and the second locking structure in the interlocked condition (through engagement of between 110 and the rims of 102, 104), to thereby retain the first member and the second member in the coupled relation (figures 3 and 4).
Regarding claim 12, the first member 102 and the second member 104 are configured to transition between an uncoupled relation (figure 1) and the coupled relation (figure 2).
Regarding claim 13, the connector member 110 is configured to be at least partially received within a port at 120 defined by the first member and the second member when in the coupled relation.
Regarding claim 14, the connector member 110 defines a channel portion, the channel portion receiving inner portions of the first member and the second member defining the port to facilitate mounting of the connector member within the port (figure 3).
Regarding claim 15, the connector member 110 includes a flange at 114 adjacent the channel portion, the flange engaging the first locking structure (rim of 102) to maintain the first member and the second member in the coupled relation (figure 3).
Regarding claim 16, the connector member 110 defines an inner opening for receiving a threaded fitting (center of 110; figure 3).
Regarding claim 17, the first locking structure (rim of 102, 112) of the first member 102 includes a latch 112 and the second locking structure (rim of 104 and 132, 128) of the second member 104 includes a slot (defined by 128) for at least partially receiving the latch 112.
Regarding claim 18, the first locking structure (rim of 102, 112) of the first member 102 includes first and second sets of latches (two shown in figure 1) and the second locking structure of the first member includes the second member (figure 1).
Regarding claim 26, the connector member 110 comprises an adapter (inner port of 110) configured for connection to one of a tubing, conduit, piping or fitting.
Regarding claim 28, the first locking structure (rim of 102, 112) of the first member 102 is capable of being released from the second locking structure (rim of 104, 132, 128) of the second member 104 when the connector member 110 is released from the first member and the second member, to thereby enable the first member and the second member to assume a decoupled relation (when 110 is removed from the first and second member the members can be decoupled).
Regarding claim 29, the first locking structure (rim of 102, 112) of the first member 102 is configured to be elastically pliable to selectively bend to disengage the second locking structure of the second member (112 bends to disengage from 128).
Regarding claim 31, electrical wiring 108 or plumbing extending from the junction box.
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.
Claims 19-24, 30 and 32-36 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Settru et al. (WO 2015097537A1) in view of Berner et al. (DE 102022130898A1).
Regarding claim 19, Settru et al. discloses the claimed invention except for the lower first component and upper second component. Berner et al. teaches that it is known to provide a box with multiple upper components (see figure 13). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the junction box of Settru et al. with multiple upper and lower components, as taught by Berner et al., in order to increase and decrease the overall size of the junction box.
Regarding claim 20, the upper first component is couplable to the upper second component with the first locking structure and the second locking structure (as modified by Berner et al. above; see elements 33and 34), and the lower first component is couplable to the lower second component with the one or more mating features (as modified by Berner et al. above; see elements 33 and 34).
Regarding claim 21, the upper first component is couplable to the lower first component; and the upper second component is couplable to the lower second component by elements 126, 128 of Settru et al.
Regarding claim 22, one or more fasteners for securing the upper first component to the lower first component (elements 126, 128 of Settru et al.), and one or more fasteners for securing the upper second component to the lower second component (elements 126, 128 of Settru et al.).
Regarding claim 23, the upper first component and the lower first component define a first port for reception of a fitting (at opening 120).
Regarding claim 24, the upper second component and the lower second component define a second port for reception of a fitting (other opening at 120).
Regarding claim 30, the lower first component includes the first locking structure and the lower second component includes the second locking structure, wherein the one or more additional mating features for coupling the lower first component to the lower second component includes the first locking structure and the second locking structure (elements 126, 128 of Settru et al.).
Regarding claim 32, Settru et al. teaches a junction box 100 for arranging electrical lines or plumbing, comprising a first member 102, a second member 104 and a modular adapter element 110 disposed in a port formed by the first member and the second member, the modular adapter element 110 including one or more engaging surfaces (figure 4) dimensioned to operative engage the one or more mating interfaces of the first member to maintain the one or more mating interfaces of the first member in the interlocked relation with the one or more mating interfaces of the second member (figure 4), to thereby prevent decoupling of the first member and the second member.
Further regarding claim 32, Settru et al. discloses the claimed invention except for the lower first component and upper second component. Berner et al. teaches that it is known to provide a box with multiple upper components (see figure 13). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the junction box of Settru et al. with multiple upper and lower components, as taught by Berner et al., in order to increase and decrease the overall size of the junction box.
Regarding claim 33, the upper first component and the lower first component of the first member (as modified by Berner et al. above) each include first locking structure (rim of upper and lower first components), and the upper second component and the lower second component (as modified by Berner et al. above) of the second member each include second locking structure (rim of upper and lower second components), the first locking structure and the second locking structure configured to assume an interlocked condition to releasably secure the first member and the second member in the coupled relation, and wherein the one or more mating interfaces of the first member and the second member include the first locking structure and the second locking structure (the interlocking rims taught by Settru et al. are applied on the additional components of the modified invention).
Regarding claim 34, the modular adapter element 110 is removable from the port 120, and wherein the first locking structure of the first member (rim) is capable of being released from the second locking structure (rim) of the second member upon removal of the modular adapter element 110 from the port, to thereby enable the first member and the second member to assume a decoupled relation (when 110 is removed from the first and second member the members can be decoupled).
Regarding claim 35, the first locking structure of the first member 102 includes a latch 112 and the second locking structure 128 of the second member 104 includes a recess at 128 for at least partially receiving the latch.
Regarding claim 36, the first locking structure of the first member 102 is configured to be elastically pliable to selectively bend to disengage the second locking structure of the second member (112 bends to disengage from 128).
Claim 25 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Settru et al. (WO 2015097537A1) in view of Berner et al. (DE 102022130898A1), as applied to claim 24 above, and further in view of Rao et al. (U.S. 2022/0285925).
Regarding claim 25, the modified junction box of Settru et al. discloses the claimed invention except for the internal thread of the port. Rao et al. teaches that it is known to provide a box with a port having an internal thread (see figure 6). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the modified junction box of Settru et al. with the port having an internal thread, as taught by Rao et al., in order to secure the attachment therein.
Claim 27 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Settru et al. (WO 2015097537A1) in view of Melton (U.S. 2012/0181054).
Regarding claim 27, Settru et al. discloses the claimed invention except for the second port being on a second side. Melton teaches that it is known to provide a box with multiple ports on multiple sides (see figure 5). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the junction box of Settru et al. with the second port being on a second side, as taught by Melton, in order to sue the box in settings where the cables extend from different directions.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed November 4, 2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues that Settru et al. does not teach a connecting member mountable and configured to engage the first locking structure of the first member to maintain the first locking structure and the second locking structure in the interlocked condition, as set forth in amended claim 11. It is the examiner’s position that Settru et al. meets this limitation of amended claim 11, to the degree set forth in the claim. Specifically, the locking structure of the first member 102 can be comprised of the rim of 102 and element 112. Similarly, the locking structure of the second member 104 cam be comprised of the rim of 104 and elements 132, 128. The connector member 110 is mountable on the rims of 102 and 104 which are components of their respective locking structures. Connector member 110 engages rims of 102 and 104 and aids in maintaining the locking structures in the interlocked condition, as shown in figure 4.
Conclusion
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 NIKI MARINA ELOSHWAY whose telephone number is (571)272-4538. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday 7: 00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Orlando E. Aviles can be reached at 571-270-5531. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/NIKI M ELOSHWAY/Examiner, Art Unit 3736
/ORLANDO E AVILES/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3736