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
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 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by Kato (US 6,830,225).
Regarding claim 1, Kato discloses a wire protector (1), comprising: a clip (6) mounted on a wire (7 or,5); a housing (2) configured to receive the clip (6), fixed to a vehicle body and having both longitudinal ends open for the wire to pass therethrough (see figure 1); and a stopper (29; see figure 2a) provided on either longitudinal end of an inner surface of the housing (2) to limit a longitudinal movement of the clip (6) inside the housing (see figures 2a and 2b).
Regarding claim 2, Kato discloses the wire protector (1), wherein the clip (6) comprises: a ball portion having a through-hole (see figures 1, 2a, 2b and 4).
Regarding claim 3, Kato discloses the wire protector (1), wherein the ball portion (see figure 4) comprises: at least two segmented ball portions (37,38) comprising a first segmented ball portion and a second segmented ball portion (see figure 4), wherein the first segmented ball portion has a plurality of first hook holes (40), and the second segmented ball portion has a plurality of first hooks (39) configured to be coupled to the plurality of first hook holes (column 8 lines 46-53).
Regarding claim 4, Kato discloses the wire protector (1), wherein, when the plurality of first hooks (39) is coupled to the plurality of first hook holes (40), the first segmented ball portion and the second segmented ball portion are coupled while enclosing an outer surface of the wire (see figure 4; column 8 lines 46-53)
Regarding claim 5, Kato discloses the wire protector (1), wherein the first segmented ball portion (37) and the second segmented ball portion (38) each further comprises: a corrugated groove (see figure 2a, 2b and 4) formed on an inner surface of the through-hole, wherein the corrugated groove (see figure 4) is configured to be coupled between corrugations of the wire when the first segmented ball portion and the second segmented ball portion are coupled to each other, each enclosing half the outer surface of the wire (see figures 2a, 2b and 4).
Regarding claim 6, Kato discloses the wire protector (1), wherein the housing (2) comprises: a housing body (3) having a plurality of second hook holes (24) formed on an outer surface thereof (see figure 3); and a housing cover (10) configured to cover the housing body (3) and comprising a plurality of second hooks (23) configured to be coupled to the plurality of second hook holes (24), wherein the stopper (29) is formed on the housing body (3, see figure 3).
Regarding claim 7, Kato discloses the wire protector (1), wherein the stopper (29) comprises: a pair of first stoppers (29) provided on one longitudinal end of the housing body (see figure 2a); and a pair of second stoppers (29) provided on another longitudinal end of the housing body (see figure 2a).
Regarding claim 8, Kato discloses the wire protector (1), wherein the pair of first stoppers (29) and the pair of second stoppers (29) each further comprises: protrusions protruding from an inner surface of the housing body to face each other (see figures 2a and 2b).
Regarding claim 9, Kato discloses the wire protector (1), wherein a width between the protrusions is less than a diameter of the ball portion (see figures 2a and 2b).
Regarding claim 10, Kato discloses the wire protector (1), wherein an inner width of the housing (2) is equal to a diameter of the ball portion (6), and a longitudinal spacing between the pair of first stoppers (29) and the pair of second stoppers (29) is equal to a length of the through-hole (see figures 2a and 2b).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kato (US 6,830,225) in view of Irons et al (US 9,438,017; hereinafter Irons).
Regarding claim 11, Kogure discloses the claimed invention except for a protective pad is provided on the inner surface of the housing to enclose the clip. Iron teaches a protector (500) comprising a protective pad (910) is provided on the inner surface of the housing (915; 905; see figure 9) to enclose the clip (525). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide to Kogure with a protective pad on the inner surface of the housing to enclose the clip as taught by Irons to provide protection against the ingress of dust or foreign objects.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Yamashita et al (US 10,632,940), Serizawa et al (US 8,944,474), Tokunga et al (US 8,847,073), Sakata et al (US 8,013,248), Koruge et al (US 7,645,938), and Thompson (US 7,534,965) disclose a wire protector.
Any inquiry concerning this communication should be directed to Angel R. Estrada at telephone number (571) 272-1973. The Examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday (8:30am -5:00pm).
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Imani N. Hayman can be reached on (571) 270-5528. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) OR 571-272-1000.
August 21, 2026
/ANGEL R ESTRADA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2841
Prosecution Insights