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 as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference character 53 has been used to designate both ‘side’ and ‘lever lock’. 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. 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.
Numeral 53 for lever lock should be changed to 59.
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 Objections
Claims 1 and 4 are objected to because of the following informalities: Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 1, lines 15-16, the recitation: ‘either one of the female housing and the hood portion has a protrusion, and another one of the female housing…’ may be better written as -- one of the female housing and the hood portion has a protrusion, and other one of the female housing…--.
Claim 4, lines 4-5, ‘a female cam pin configured to be combined with the male cam pin..’, may be better written as -- a female cam pin configured to be coupled to the male cam pin..--.
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 2 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 2, lines 4 and 6, the recitation ‘possibly formed between’ (two places) is vague and indefinite. The recitation of ‘possibly’ does not allow scope of the claim to be clearly defined.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1, and 3-5 are allowed, subject to claim objection above.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The prior art of record does not disclose or suggest ‘a connector comprising: a female connector and a male connector that are fittable to each other, wherein the male connector includes and a male housing and a moving plate movable and a male terminal includes a tab, the male housing includes a hood portion. One of the female housing and the hood portion has a protrusion, and another one of the female housing and the hood portion has a recess, and in a fitting state of the female connector and the male connector, a base end side of the protrusion is disposed inside the escape portion, and a distal end side of the protrusion is fitted and positioned in the recess.
The closest prior art of Nozaki et al. (US 20220158392) discloses most of the elements, but does not disclose ‘one of the female housing and the hood portion has a protrusion, and another one of the female housing and the hood portion has a recess, and in a fitting state of the female connector and the male connector, a base end side of the protrusion is disposed inside the escape portion, and a distal end side of the protrusion is fitted and positioned in the recess.’
Claim 2 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.
Conclusion
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/TULSIDAS C PATEL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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