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
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 1-6, 9-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Blakborn US 20210408702 A1.
In reference to claim 1, Blakborn teaches a shielding device (shown in figure 1) for electromagnetic shielding of a data transmission arrangement, comprising: a housing (6; fig. 2) made from sheet metal, the housing comprising at least one press-fit/compliant pin (12; fig. 2) configured for connecting the housing with a printed circuit board (3; fig. 2); and a pair of signal lines (14; fig. 4) being arranged inside the housing, so as to be electromagnetically shielded.
In reference to claim 2, Blakborn teaches the shielding device for electromagnetic shielding according to claim 1, wherein the at least one press-fit/compliant pin is integrally formed with the housing (See fig. 2).
In reference to claim 3, Blakborn teaches the shielding device for electromagnetic shielding according to claim 1, wherein the shielding device has a 90 degree configuration for enabling a 90 degree connection of the pair of signal lines (see fig. 1, 2, 4).
In reference to claim 4, Blakborn teaches the shielding device for electromagnetic shielding according to claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises: a first cavity (near lead line 9; fig. 2) for receiving a first end of the signal lines, which defines a first direction, and a second cavity (near lead line 10; fig. 2), for receiving a second end of the signal lines, which defines a second direction essentially perpendicular to the first direction (see fig. 2).
In reference to claim 5, Blakborn teaches the shielding device for electromagnetic shielding according to claim 4, wherein the first cavity is formed by bending the sheet metal into an oval cylindrical shape (see fig. 2) and the second cavity is formed by bending the sheet metal into a box-shaped structure (see fig. 2).
In reference to claim 6, Blakborn teaches the shielding device for electromagnetic shielding according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises at least one dedicated press-in surface (7; fig. 1, where 7 is bendable (see [0134]) and pressed into the surface of 8; fig. 1), configured to be engaged by a corresponding press-in tool (not shown, but the tool that bends and presses 7 into 8; fig. 1).
In reference to claim 9, Blakborn teaches the shielding device for electromagnetic shielding according to claim 1, wherein the pair of signal lines is arranged inside an insulating body.
In reference to claim 10, Blakborn teaches the shielding device for electromagnetic shielding according to claim 9, wherein the insulating body is molded around the signal lines.
In reference to the recitation “is molded around the signal lines” this is seen as the method of forming. The method of forming the device is not germane to the issue of patentability of the device itself. Therefore, this limitation has not been given patentable weight.
In reference to claim 11, Blakborn teaches the shielding device for electromagnetic shielding according to claim 9, wherein the housing is at least partially bent around the insulating body. (See fig. 1).
In reference to claim 12, Blakborn teaches the shielding device for electromagnetic shielding according to claim 1, wherein the signal lines are provided with connecting ends in a form of press-fit pins (see 16; fig. 4).
In reference to claim 13, Blakborn teaches the shielding device for electromagnetic shielding according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises one or more protrusions (13; fig. 2) on an edge of a housing wall configured to come into contact with the PCB, to improve a contact quality between the housing and the PCB.
In reference to claim 14, Blakborn teaches the shielding device for electromagnetic shielding according to claim 13, wherein the one or more protrusions (13) are teeth.
In reference to claim 15, Blakborn teaches the shielding device for electromagnetic shielding according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises mounting means (7; fig. 1, 2) configured to fasten the housing with a corresponding insulating connector housing.
In reference to claim 16, Blakborn teaches the shielding device for electromagnetic shielding according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises mounting hooks (7; fig. 1, 2) configured to fasten the housing with a corresponding insulating connector housing.
In reference to claim 17, Blakborn teaches the shielding device for electromagnetic shielding according to claim 1, wherein the housing (6; fig. 2) is formed from a single piece of sheet metal.
In reference to claim 18, Blakborn teaches a connector system, comprising: the shielding device for electromagnetic shielding according to claim 1, and an insulating connector (2; fig. 1), wherein the shielding device is at least partially received.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 7 and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Blakborn US 20210408702 A1 in view of Lin US 20040157491 A1.
In reference to claim 7, Blakborn substantially teaches the claimed invention.
However Blakborn does not teach wherein the housing comprises locking apertures and corresponding locking protrusions, such that upon bending the housing into a dedicated shape, the locking apertures and locking protrusions interact to maintain the dedicated shape.
Lin teaches of the housing comprises locking apertures and corresponding locking protrusions, (see “dovetail feature” near line 32; fig. 3) such that upon bending the housing into a dedicated shape, the locking apertures and locking protrusions interact to maintain the dedicated shape. Using the teachings of Lin to modify Blakborn to arrive at the results of claim 7 is seen as an obvious modification.
Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the teachings of Lin to modify Blakborn in order to surely secure the housing at the seams. The ends of the metal sheet that forms the housing are still secured together, therefore new results are not produced.
In reference to claim 8, Blakborn substantially teaches the claimed invention.
However Blakborn does not teach wherein the housing comprises interacting locking elements in form of a dovetail connection, such that upon bending the housing into a dedicated shape, the dovetail connection acts to maintain the dedicated shape.
Lin teaches the housing comprises interacting locking elements in form of a dovetail connection (see “dovetail feature” near lead line 32; fig. 1), such that upon bending the housing into a dedicated shape, the dovetail connection acts to maintain the dedicated shape. Using the teachings of Lin to modify Blakborn to arrive at the results of claim 8 is seen as an obvious modification.
Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the teachings of Lin to modify Blakborn in order to surely secure the housing at the seams. The ends of the metal sheet that forms the housing are still secured together, therefore new results are not produced.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TRAVIS SLOAN CHAMBERS whose telephone number is (571)272-6813. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30a.m.-5:00p.m..
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Abdullah A Riyami 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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/TRAVIS S CHAMBERS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831 07/03/2026
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