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 .
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 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by JP 2002-313486.
JP ‘486 discloses a connector device, comprising: a first connector F including a plurality of first terminal fittings (not shown); and a second connector M connectable to the first connector, the second connector including a holder 20, a plurality of sub-connectors 40A,40B mounted in the holder and a plurality of second terminal fittings (not shown) mounted in the sub-connectors, the plurality of sub-connectors mounted in the holder being individually movable from an initial position (Figure 10A) to a connection position (Figure 10C) where the first terminal fittings and the second terminal fittings are connected, the holder being formed with a lock arm 31 configured to be resiliently deformed in the process of fitting the holder into the first connector and restrict separation of the holder by resiliently returning with the holder properly fit in the first connector, the plurality of sub-connectors including a locking sub-connector 40A including a deflection restricting portion (above 51A in Figure 10A), and the deflection restricting portion being located to restrict resilient deformation of the lock arm with the holder fit in the first connector and the locking sub-connector pushed to the connection position.
Claims 2-7 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: none of
the prior art discloses or teaches a rear end of a connecting portion formed on a rear end of the sub-
connector projects further rearward than a rear end of the holder with the sub-connector located at the
initial position; nor the first terminal fittings and the second terminal fittings are held in such a positional
relationship as not to be in contact with each other with the holder fit in the first connector and the sub-
connectors located at the initial position; nor the first connector is formed with releasing portions for
releasing movement restrictions by the resilient locking pieces when the holder is fit into the first
connector; the sub-connector is formed with a stopper for locking the other sub-connector adjacent in a
stacking direction from behind; nor the first connector is formed with guide portions projecting along
the tabs, and the sub-connector is guided by sliding in contact with the guide portion in the process of
moving the sub-connector from the initial position to the connection position; in combination with the
rest of the subject matter of the independent claim and any intervening claims.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GARY F PAUMEN whose telephone number is (571)272-2013. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christopher Koehler can be reached at 571-272-3560. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/GARY F PAUMEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
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