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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
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.
Claim 4 is 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 4 recites the limitations "a housing" and “a cavity” in Line 3. It is not clear if these limitations are the same recited in Claim 1 or new ones. For examination purposes, the Examiner will assume that they are the same.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 and 3-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hashimoto (JP 2014017171). Regarding Claim 1, Hashimoto discloses a terminal (90) that is inserted into a sealing hole (52) of a mat seal (50) of a housing (10) from a rear side to a front side, and that is detached from the front side to the rear side, the terminal comprising: a first box portion (91) that is substantially box-shaped, wherein the first box portion includes: a first bottom wall (99), a pair of first side walls (sides of 91 until 98) that stand upright from two ends of the first bottom wall, a first ceiling wall (94) that opposes the first bottom wall, and a locking wall (88) positioned on a rear end side of the first box portion, which is a leading end side (Fig. 1) in a detaching direction of the terminal, the first ceiling wall and the locking wall are connected to each other via a connection portion (bent portion between 88 and 95) curved from the detaching direction toward the first bottom wall, one of the first side walls has an extended portion (portion of the sides of 91 from 98 to 92) extending to the rear side, an extending end of the extended portion overlaps a plate surface (side end of 88 shown in Fig. 6) of the locking wall as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the detaching direction, and the locking wall extends from a portion (Fig. 6) thereof that is coupled to the connection portion to the other first side wall side, and an extended end portion (Fig. 6) of the locking wall and a rear end edge (Fig. 6) of the other first side wall oppose each other in a front-rear direction.
Regarding Claim 3, Hashimoto discloses a second box portion (95) that is disposed on the front side relative to the first box portion with a space therebetween, and is substantially box-shaped, wherein the second box portion includes: a second bottom wall (98), a pair of second side walls (97) that stand upright from two ends of the second bottom wall, and a second ceiling wall (94) that opposes the second bottom wall, and a distance between the second bottom wall and the second ceiling wall is shorter than or equal to a distance between the first bottom wall and the first ceiling wall.
Regarding Claim 4, Hashimoto discloses a connector (Fig. 1) comprising: the terminal, and the housing that includes the cavity that stores the terminal.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The cited prior art discloses connectors, similar to Applicant’s claimed invention, having terminals, seals and box portions.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EDWIN A LEON whose telephone number is (571)272-2008. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10am-6pm.
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, Renee S Luebke can be reached on 5712722009. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/EDWIN A. LEON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831
Prosecution Insights