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 § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claim 20 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 20, lines 13-14, the phrase “the pair of end plate stiffening flanges extending from a respective one of the end plate stiffening flanges to define a cavity” is unclear and causes confusion.
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 17 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Skinner (4029896).
Skinner discloses an auxiliary electric splice for connecting electric cables at splice joints, the auxiliary electric splice comprising: an insulator assembly comprising a first insulator (23) and a second insulator (22) configured to secure around and between the splice joints to electrically insulate the splice joints, the first insulator (23) including: a support wall (bottom wall) configured to extend longitudinally adjacent to the splice joints; a center insulator plate (not numbered, see Figures 4-6) extending laterally from the support wall and configured to extend between the splice joints; a first outer insulator plate (left of the center plate) extending laterally from the support wall, spaced from the center insulator plate, and including a catch hole (33) configured to engage the second insulator; and a second outer insulator plate (right of the center plate) extending laterally from the support wall, spaced from the center insulator plate on an opposite side from the first outer insulator plate, and including a barb (32) configured to engage with the second insulator (22) to hold the first insulator and the second insulator in an assembled position. Skinner also discloses that the second insulator is identical to the first insulator (col. 3 lines 28-29).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-16 are allowed.
Claim 19 is 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.
Claim 20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. Claim 20 is allowed only if it is amended to change the phrase “the pair of end plate stiffening flanges extending from a respective one of the end plate stiffening flanges to define a cavity” to --a pair of drawer runner flanges, each extending from a respective one of the end plate stiffening flanges to define a cavity-- (see claim 1).
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHAU N NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-1980. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th, 7am to 5:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Imani N Hayman can be reached at 571-270-5528. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHAU N NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2841
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