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 1-8 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 other side" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the first conductor" in lines 10 and 14. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is unclear that whether or not “the first conductor” is referring to “a plate-like first conductor”.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the second conductor" in lines 12-13 and line 17. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is unclear that whether or not “the second conductor” is referring to “a plate-like second conductor”.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "another member" in line 15 is unclear.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the other member" in line 18 is unclear.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-8 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
The prior art of record failed to teach a terminal to be connected to a plate-like mating conductor comprising: a case, a first spring member, a second spring member, a plate-like first conductor thicker than the first resilient piece, a plate-like second conductor thicker than the second resilient piece;
the first conductor including a first connecting portion on one side in the longitudinal direction to be connected to another member and a first plate portion on the other side in the longitudinal direction, the second conductor including a second connecting portion on one side in the longitudinal direction to be connected to the other member and a second plate portion on the other side in the longitudinal direction, the first resilient piece biasing the first plate portion in a direction toward the second plate portion, the second resilient piece biasing the second plate portion in a direction toward the first plate portion, and a space between the first and second plate portions being a region where the mating conductor inserted along the first direction is sandwiched.
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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