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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 08/29/2024 and 11/14/2025 was filed on and after the mailing date of the application. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Objections
Claims 18 and 20 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 18 line 2 recites, “diameter the,” claim should be amended to recite –diameter of the--.
Claim 20 needs a period at the end. Appropriate correction is required.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp.
Claims 1-12 and 14-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-6, 8-10, 12-15 and 17-22 of copending Application No. 18/316626 (reference application). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the claimed subject matter in reference application are claiming the same embodiment with similar structural limitations.
The subject matter claimed in the instant application of claims 1-12 and 14-20 corresponds to the subject matter of claims 1-6, 8-10, 12-15 and 17-22 of reference application; the details are as follows:
Claim 1 of the instant application recites, “an electrical socket comprising: a socket body defining a longitudinal axis and comprising a plurality of contact beams that are spaced from each other and that extend between a first end section and a second end section, the plurality of contact beams comprising a middle section positioned between the first end section and the second end section, wherein each of the plurality of contact beams has a contour extending between the first end section and the second end section such that a cross-section of the middle section of the plurality of contact beams taken in a plane oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis has at least one curved portion that is convex toward an interior of the socket body, wherein the socket body is configured to receive a mating pin, and wherein the middle section comprises an inner contact area configured to contact the mating pin,” (same elements recited in claim 1 of 18/316626).
Claim 2 of the instant application recites, “the electrical socket of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the socket body at the middle section is less than a diameter of the socket body at the first end section or the second end section,” (same elements recited in claim 1+2 of 18/316626).
Claim 3 of the instant application recites, “the electrical socket of claim 1, wherein the socket body is configured to contact the mating pin at only the inner contact area,” (same elements recited in claim 1+3 of 18/316626).
Claim 4 of the instant application recites, “the electrical socket of claim 1, wherein the middle section is longer and wider than each of the first end section and the second end section,” (same elements recited in claim 1+4 of 18/316626).
Claim 5 of the instant application recites, “the electrical socket of claim 4, wherein at least one of the plurality of contact beams has a teardrop shape,” (same elements recited in claim 1+4+5 of 18/316626).
Claim 6 of the instant application recites, “the electrical socket of claim 1, wherein the socket body has a hyperbolic geometry,” (same elements recited in claim 1+6 of 18/316626).
Claim 7 of the instant application recites, “the electrical socket of claim 1, wherein the inner contact area has a smooth surface,” (same elements recited in claim 1+8 of 18/316626).
Claim 8 of the instant application recites, “the electrical socket of claim 1, wherein the socket body is formed as a single piece,” (same elements recited in claim 1+9 of 18/316626).
Claim 9 of the instant application recites, “the electrical socket of claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the middle section of has a concave curvature,” (same elements recited in claim 1+10 of 18/316626).
Claim 10 of the instant application recites, “a method of making an electrical socket, comprising: contouring a middle section of at least one contact beam of a conductive blank to have a non-planar inner contact area configured to contact a mating pin receivable within the electrical socket; and rolling the conductive blank to form a cylindrical body that defines a longitudinal axis after the contouring of the middle section, wherein the inner contact area extends inwardly towards an interior of the cylindrical body when viewed in a plane oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis,” (same elements recited in claim 12 of 18/316626).
Claim 11 of the instant application recites, “the method of claim 10, further comprising twisting the at least one contact beam into a hyperbolic geometry,” (same elements recited in claim 12+13 of 18/316626).
Claim 12 of the instant application recites, “the method of claim 11, wherein the twisting the at least one contact beam into the hyperbolic geometry further comprises twisting a first end of the cylindrical body relative to a second end of the cylindrical body about the longitudinal axis,” (same elements recited in claim 12+13+14 of 18/316626).
Claim 14 of the instant application recites, “the method of claim 10, wherein the contouring the middle section further comprises contouring the middle section,” (same elements recited in claim 12+15 of 18/316626).
Claim 15 of the instant application recites, “the method of claim 10, further comprising stamping the conductive blank to form the at least one contact beam,” (same elements recited in claim 12+17 of 18/316626).
Claim 16 of the instant application recites, “the method of claim 10, further comprising attaching opposite edges of the conductive blank together after the rolling the conductive blank to form the cylindrical body,” (same elements recited in claim 12+18 of 18/316626).
Claim 17 of the instant application recites, “an electrical socket comprising: a rolled body defining a longitudinal axis and having a first end, a second end, and a plurality of connectors connected to and extending between the first end and the second end; wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors has a longitudinally extending contour, wherein a cross-section of the at least one of the plurality of connectors, taken in a plane oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, has at least one portion directionally shaped toward an interior of the socket body, wherein the socket body is configured to receive a mating pin, and wherein the at least one of the plurality of connectors has an inwardly facing surface configured to contact the mating pin,” (same elements recited in claim 19 of 18/316626).
Claim 18 of the instant application recites, “the electrical socket of claim 17, wherein a diameter at a central portion of the plurality of connectors is less than a diameter the first end or the second end,” (same elements recited in claim 19+20 of 18/316626).
Claim 19 of the instant application recites, “the electrical socket of claim 17, wherein the socket body is configured to contact the mating pin at only the inner contact area,” (same elements recited in claim 19+21 of 18/316626).
Claim 20 of the instant application recites, “the electrical socket of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of connectors has opposite ends connected to the first end and the second end, respectively, and wherein a central portion of the at least one of the plurality of connectors is longer and wider than the ends of the connector,” (same elements recited in claim 19+22 of 18/316626).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 are allowed.
Reasons for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: regarding claim 1, the prior art of record fails to disclose, teach, provide or suggest wherein each of the plurality of contact beams has a contour extending between the first end section and the second end section such that a cross-section of the middle section of the plurality of contact beams taken in a plane oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis has at least one curved portion that is convex toward an interior of the socket body combined with the remaining limitations of the base claim.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: regarding claim 10, the prior art of record fails to disclose, teach, provide or suggest contouring a middle section of at least one contact beam of a conductive blank to have a non-planar inner contact area configured to contact a mating pin receivable within the electrical socket; and rolling the conductive blank to form a cylindrical body that defines a longitudinal axis after the contouring of the middle section, wherein the inner contact area extends inwardly towards an interior of the cylindrical body when viewed in a plane oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis combined with the remaining limitations of the base claim.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: regarding claim 17, the prior art of record fails to disclose, teach, provide or suggest wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors has a longitudinally extending contour, wherein a cross-section of the at least one of the plurality of connectors, taken in a plane oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, has at least one portion [[is]] directionally shaped toward an interior of the socket body combined with the remaining limitations of the base claim.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See PTO-892 form.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARCUS E HARCUM whose telephone number is (571)272-9986. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri. 8am-5pm.
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 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.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/MARCUS E HARCUM/Examiner, Art Unit 2831
Prosecution Insights