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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the claims 8, 9, 20, “shaped element detachable making feature” if present these features should be pointed out by figure and numeral number, must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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 1-20 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.
Claims 1, 13, 14, the examiner suggests the applicant to change the pronoun “it” to a proper noon for clear understanding.
Claim 2, line 4, “the base shape” has no antecedent basis.
Claim 3, line 3, “a holding element” is unclear should be changed to – the holding element--.
Claim 5, line 3, “the contrast element” has no antecedent basis.
Claim 7, “the housing front” and “the housing back” have no antecedent basis.
Claim 11, “the shielding element” has no antecedent basis.
Claim 15, “a holding element” is unclear and should be changed to – the holding element--.
Claim 17, “the contrast element” has no antecedent basis.
Claim 19, “the housing front” and “the housing back” have no antecedent basis.
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 1-7, 15-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a, 1) as being anticipated by Mitra (U. S. Patent 5,277,618).
Regarding claim 1, Mitra, see figures 1-3, discloses a printed circuit board 2 connector 1 having a housing 3 for receiving at least one contact element 13, the housing 3 having at least one holding element 7 for connection to a printed circuit board (see figure 2c), wherein the housing 3 has at least one shaped element 7, the shaped element 7 being configured in such a way that it can be registered by at least one sensor element (the recitation of possible use with a sensor element define no structure to overcome post 7, even without any suggestion of such use. In addition, column 8, lines 1-4, may also fulfill a sensing function, hence may be registered by a sensing element).
Regarding claim 2, Mitra, see figures 1-3, discloses the shaped element 7 merges substantially into the base shape of the housing 3.
Regarding claim 3, Mitra, see figures 1-3, discloses the shaped element 7 is arranged next to a holding element 7. One part 7 is read as a holding element and another part 7, closest to first part is read as a shaped element and these are readable as “next” to each other.
Regarding claim 4, Mitra, see figures 1-3, discloses the shaped element 7 is highlight by a contrast element (the lower edge of the wall at line 4 is read as contrast element) on the housing 3.
Regarding claim 5, Mitra, see figures 1-3, discloses the contrast element (the lower edge of the wall at line 4 is read as contrast element” is configured substantially as a contrast shape, the contrast shape being arranged on the housing 3.
Regarding claim 6, Mitra, see figures 1-3, discloses the housing 3 is formed from at least a housing front (upper part of the housing 3) and a housing back (the lower part of the housing 3), the housing front (the upper part of the housing 3) being connected to the housing back (the lower part of the housing 3).
Regarding claim 7, Mitra, see figures 1-3, discloses the housing front (the upper part of the housing 3) differs detectably from the housing back (the lower part of the housing 3).
Regarding claim 15, Mitra, see figures 1-3, discloses the shaped element 7 is arranged next to a holding element 7.
Regarding claim 16, Mitra, see figures 1-3, discloses the shaped element 7 is highlighted by a contrast element (lower edge) on the housing 3.
Regarding claim 17, Mitra, see figures 1-3, discloses the contrast element 7 is configured substantially as a contrast shape, the contrast shape 7 being arranged on the housing 3.
Regarding claims 18, 19, Mitra, see figures discloses the housing 3 is formed from at least a housing front (upper part of the housing 3) and a housing back (lower part of the housing 3), the housing front (upper part of the housing 3) being connected to the housing back (lower part of the housing 3).
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 10-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mitra in view of Sato (U. S. Patent 7,152,532).
Regarding claims 10-12, Mitra, see figures 1-3, discloses the claimed invention to modify the housing is configured to receive at least one shielding element. Sato discloses connector with shield. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Mitra to provide such features as taught by Sato so as to protect connector contact from EMI.
Claims 8 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mitra.
Regarding claims 8, 20, Mitra, see figures 1-3, discloses the claimed invention except for the shaped element has at least one detectable marking. As usable to fulfill a sensing function. In such case marker on the shaped elements would be helpful. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Mitra to provide such features so as to aid the sensing function.
Claim 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mitra in view of Stoner (U. S. Patent 7976326).
Regarding claim 13, Mitra, see figures 1-3, discloses the housing is configured so that it can be correspondingly brought into engagement with a substantially identically constructed housing. Stoner discloses connector 22 if formed for engagement with a substantially identical connector and contact 50A formed to engage a similar type connector. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Mitra to provide such features as taught by Stoner so as to provide strong securement to the pcb.
Claim 14 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mitra in view of Murphy (U. S. Patent 3,070,769).
Regarding claim 14, Mitra discloses the claimed invention except for use of contact configured to be brought into contact with substantially identical contact. Murphy discloses connector that use identical contacts in each housing. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Mitra to provide such features as taught by Murphy so as to provide to enable lower cost with only one type contact to be manufactured.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 9 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.
None of the references discloses the shaped element is at least partially enclosed by at least one detectable marking.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PHUONG K DINH whose telephone number is (571)272-2090. The examiner can normally be reached M-F from 8:30 am - 5:30 pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Riyami A Abdullah can be reached at 571-270-3119. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PHUONG K DINH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831
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