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 .
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.
Claim(s) 1-7 and 9-18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by WO2020/172661 to Ninomiya et al.
Ninomiya discloses a ramp adapter comprising:
An extension portion (22) configured to abut against one or more connector adapters (100) that is removably attached (figure 6B-8A);
Fastening portions (ribs with release tab 22a and spring 20); and
One or more grips (the flat portion of 22 in figure 5 may be gripped);
Wherein the extension portion is configured to support and guide a connector (figure 7A).
As to claims 2 and 9, a plurality of channels are defined by dividers (ribs and figure 8B).
As to claim 3, it appears there are 4 channels which match the 4 ports shown in figure 12.
As to claims 4-5 and 10, the sloped portions are not required to be along the length of the extension portion. Therefore, the curved areas in 23b appear to meet this limitation.
As to claims 6-7, the sloped tabs mate with the adapter top surface and would be at the same height and flush.
As to claim 11, the adapter is unitary.
As to claim 12, the motion or method of use during insertion is not a positive limitation in an apparatus claim.
As to claims 13-15, the material is plastic (paragraph 47).
As to claim 16, the ramp adapter is removable.
As to claim 17, the plurality of adapters are installed in a connector housing installation (figure 11).
As to claim 18, fiber optic cables are disclosed in paragraph 47.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ninomiya in view of US 9,207,410 to Lee et al.
Ninomiya discloses the invention as claimed except for a ramped bottom portion along a lengthwise portion of the extension.
Lee discloses such a ramped portion in figure 8 to mate with a housing portion.
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to change the shape and allow a ramp to facilitate the mating surfaces along an insertion path.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 12,001,064 (extension arm for a connector).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Eric K Wong whose telephone number is (571)272-2363. The examiner can normally be reached M-Tu, Th-F 8A-6P.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Thomas Hollweg can be reached on 571-270-1739. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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ERIC K. WONG
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2874
/Eric Wong/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2874
