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 statement filed December 9, 2024 has been submitted for consideration by the Office. It has been placed in the application file and the information referred to therein has been considered.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they do not include the following reference sign(s) mentioned in the description: Specifically, the following reference signs are not illustrated in the drawings:
Reference number 13 denoting the shielding layer
Reference number 171 denoting the third part
Reference number 172 denoting the fourth part
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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.
Claim(s) 1 and 3-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Guo et al (Pat Num 2023/0114286, herein referred to Guo). Guo discloses a cable (Figs 1-5) which is capable of data transmission at a higher data transmission rate (Paragraph 2), while exhibiting improved electromagnetic shielding effect (Paragraph 39). Specifically, with respect to claim 1, Guo discloses a cable (Fig 3) comprising a core wire (110, 120), a first shielding layer (131, 132) covering the core wire (110, 120) in a longitudinal manner (Paragraph 27), a second shield layer (top and bottom 150, i.e. cable may comprise two ground shields, Paragraph 37) and an outer sheath (140), wherein the first shielding layer (131, 132) has at least two parts (1311, 1321 & 1312, 1322) spaced apart to form adjacent portions (located at 1311, 1321 & 1312, 1322), the second shielding layer (top and bottom 150) has a plurality of parts (top and bottom 150) covering the adjacent portions (located at 1311, 1321 & 1312, 1322), and a width of each part (top and bottom 150) of the second shielding layer (top and bottom 150) is greater than a distance of the adjacent portions (located at 1311, 1321 & 1312, 1322, Fig 3 shows the top 150 being longer than the overlapping adjacent portions of 131 & 132 on the top and states that the cable may have a second 150 opposite the top 150, Paragraph 36). With respect to claim 3, Guo discloses that the adjacent portions (located at 1311, 1321 & 1312, 1322) define seams (Fig 3). With respect to claim 4, Guo discloses that the first shielding layer (131, 132) includes a first part (131) and a second part (132), the second shielding layer (top and bottom 150) includes a third part (top 150) and a fourth part (bottom 150, not shown), wherein the first part (131) and the second part (132) are arranged symmetrically along a first connecting line (horizontal line, Paragraph 27) and the third part (top 150) and the fourth part (bottom 150) are arranged symmetrically along a second connecting line (vertical line) perpendicular to the first connecting line (horizontal line, Fig 3, Paragraph 37). With respect to claim 5, Guo discloses that the core wire (110, 120) is a twin axial cable (Fig 3).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
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(s) 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guo (Pat Num 2023/0114286) in view of Yonezawa et al (Pub Num 9,384,873, herein referred to as Yonezawa). Guo discloses a cable (Figs 1-5), which is capable of data transmission at a higher data transmission rate (Paragraph 2), while exhibiting improved electromagnetic shielding effect (Paragraph 39), as denoted with respect to claim 1 above. Specifically, with respect to claim 2, Guo discloses that the second shielding layer is made of metal (Paragraph 36) and the first shielding layer (131, 132) includes a base layer (i.e. polypropylene) and a metal layer (i.e. copper or aluminum) on the base layer (i.e. polypropylene), wherein the metal layer (i.e. copper or aluminum) faces outward toward the second shielding layer (top and bottom 150, Paragraph 35).
However, Guo doesn’t necessarily disclose the second shielding layers being made of pure metal or alloy material (claim 2).
Yonezawa teaches a cable (Figs 5A-5B), capable of reducing the occurrence of a skew and reliably supporting high speed transmission signals (Col 2, lines 10-15). Specifically, with respect to claim 2, Yonezawa teaches the cable (40, Fig 5A & 5B) comprises a core wire (11, 42), a shielding layer (top and bottom 45) covering the core wire (11, 42) in a longitudinal manner (Fig 5A), wherein the shielding conductor (top and bottom 45) has a plurality of parts (left and right 45), which may be made of pure metal (i.e. copper, Col 4, lines 43-49).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art of cables at the time the invention was made to modify the cable of Guo to comprise the second shielding layers being made of pure metal, such as copper as taught by Yonezawa because Yonezawa teaches that such a configuration provides a cable (Figs 5A-5B), capable of reducing the occurrence of a skew and reliably supporting high speed transmission signals (Col 2, lines 10-15) and since it has been held to be within general skill of a worker in the art to select a known material on the basis of its suitability for the intended use as a matter of obvious design choice. In re Leshin, 125 USPQ 416.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Please refer to the enclosed PTO-892 form for the citation of pertinent art in the present case, all of which disclose various cables comprising various layers and/or shieldings.
Communication
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WILLIAM H MAYO III whose telephone number is (571)272-1978. The examiner can normally be reached on M-Thurs (5:30a-3:00p) Fri 5:30a-2p (w/alternating Fridays off).
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Imani 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 a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/William H. Mayo III/
William H. Mayo III
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2847
WHM III
August 14, 2026
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