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 “cable feedthrough opening”, “connection opening”, “contact element”, “connector module”, “expanding rivet” must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s) 1-12. 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 the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the enablement requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to enable one skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and/or use the invention.
Claim 1, it is unclear about a relationship between the “first retention feature” and the “connector housing” and the “contact insert”. One skill in the art would not able to build it without undue experimentation.
Claim 5, the limitation “flag” does not have any structure support by the description. The member “flag 64” does not have a structure of a flag. It is a cylindrical sleeve.
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 5 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.
The limitation “whereby engagement of the fastener (6) in the first retention feature (2) is signaled” is unclear.
Where applicant acts as his or her own lexicographer to specifically define a term of a claim contrary to its ordinary meaning, the written description must clearly redefine the claim term and set forth the uncommon definition so as to put one reasonably skilled in the art on notice that the applicant intended to so redefine that claim term. Process Control Corp. v. HydReclaim Corp., 190 F.3d 1350, 1357, 52 USPQ2d 1029, 1033 (Fed. Cir. 1999). The term “flag” in claim 5 is used by the claim to mean “flag” while the accepted meaning is “indicator” The term is indefinite because the specification does not clearly redefine the term.
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, 4, 6, 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipated by Yu et al. (US 6,758,690).
Regarding claim 1, Yu et al. discloses an electrical connector, comprising:
a connector housing (12) with a cable feedthrough opening and a connection opening (12);
a first retention feature (22);
and a contact insert (18), wherein the contact insert accommodates at least one contact element and/or at least one connector module (20) and/or a half connector module, and
wherein the contact insert has a fastening frame which has a second retention feature (24), wherein the second retention feature corresponds to the first retention feature, wherein
a fastener (36) interacts with the first retention feature and the second retention feature,
wherein the fastening frame is held in the connector housing by the fastener, and
wherein the fastener (36) has a fixing body (the shank), a spring element (16), and a fixing element (threaded end screw on to member 22).
Regarding claim 4, Yu et al. disclose the fastener has a release element (the head flange).
Regarding claim 6, Yu et al. disclose the fixing element is engaged with the first retention feature of the connector housing.
Regarding claim 13, the method claim is deemed inherence.
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.
Claims 2 and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yu et al. (US 6,758,690) in view of Chang (US 6,475,030).
Regarding claim 2, Yu et al. substantially disclosed the claimed invention except the fastener is an expanding rivet.
Chang teaches an expanding rivet fastener (1).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to provide the expanding rivet fastener into Yu’s connector, as taught by Chang for quick releasing.
Regarding claim 9, Yu et al. substantially disclosed the claimed invention except the fastener operates according to a push-push principle.
Chang teaches a push-push principle fastener (1).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to provide the push-push principle fastener into Yu’s connector, as taught by Chang for quick releasing.
Claims 3 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yu et al. (US 6,758,690) in view of Miki et al. (US 2014/0193994).
Regarding claim 3, Yu et al. substantially disclosed the claimed invention except the fastener is a quarter-turn fastener.
Miki et al. teach a quarter turn fastener (7).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to provide the quarter turn fastener into Yu’s connector, as taught by Miki et al for quick releasing.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5, 7-8, 10-12, 14-16 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
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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