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 .
Applicant’s election without traverse of the invention of Group I drawn to a connector, and of the species thereof of Group 1, drawn to the connector of Figs 2-5 in the reply filed on 12/23/25 is acknowledged. The examiner also acknowledges applicant’s indication pursuant to the election of species requirement that the claims readable on the elected species are claims 16-20, 22 and 23.
Claims 21 and 24-33 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention or species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 12/23/25.
An action on the merits of claims 16-20, 22 and 23 follows.
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) 16-20, 22 and 23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Williams & Jones (1,282,511), cited herein, hereinafter “Williams”.
Initially, the examiner notes that the claim limitation “or integrated into the first injection device” of claim 16 lines 6-7 is a feature of a non-elected species. Therefore, pursuant to the election for examination of species Group 1, (represented by the connector of Figs 2-5), the noted claim limitation is not treated further on its merits.
The claimed connector reads on the apparatus in the Fig 5 embodiment of Williams that holds both the pen and the receptacle A together. This connector is capable of all of the claimed functions, including those recited in the preamble of claim 16.
The claimed body is the body of the above noted connector.
The claimed first connecting portion can be the structure of the connector including either one or both of clipping tongues K (See the instant application specification at page 27 paragraph 3 for context). This first connecting portion of Williams is connectable to some first injection device as functionally recited in claim 16 line 6.
The claimed second connecting portion can be the structure of the connector including clip D in Fig 5. This second connecting portion can detachably connect to some second injection device as also functionally recited in claim 16 (see the last line of the claim).
The fastening brackets of claim 19 are one or more of the clipping tongues K together with the clip D per se.
The claimed base portion of claim 22 can be the horn-like extension J.
In view of the commentary above, it is believed to be apparent how the claim limitations not specifically mentioned herein are met by Williams.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JACOB K ACKUN whose telephone number is (571)272-4418. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 11am-7pm.
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, Orlando E. Aviles can be reached at (571) 270-5531. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JACOB K ACKUN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3736
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