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 .
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.
The following title is suggested: --ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH A REINFORCED METAL CONNECTION MEMBER MOLDED IN A HOUSING--.
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 1-2 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Omori et al. (2014/0220792).
With regard to claim 1, Omori teaches, as shown in figures 1-8 and taught in paragraphs 35 and 51: “A connector 10 comprising: a connection member 30, which is formed of a conductive metal material, having a plurality of tabs 32B; and a resin housing 40 in which a portion of the connection member 30 is insert molded, wherein the connection member 30 includes: a fixed plate 31 fixed to a vehicle (taught in paragraph 35); a support plate 36 raised from the fixed plate 31; and a base part 32A connected continuously to the support plate 36 and in which the plurality of tabs 32B are formed so as to project, a pair of reinforcing ribs 37A and 37C raised from the fixed plate is formed on both sides of the fixed plate 34 in a width direction (upper-left to lower-right in figure 2), and each of the reinforcing ribs is partially covered by a resin part (bottom portion of 40 in figure 3) projecting from the housing 40”.
With regard to claim 2, Omori teaches: “The connector according to claim 1”, as shown above.
Omori teaches, as shown in figures 1-8: “wherein each of the reinforcing ribs is raised vertically from the fixed plate”.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JUSTIN M KRATT whose telephone number is (571)270-0277. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am-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, 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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/JUSTIN M KRATT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831
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