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 .
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority based on an application filed in JAPAN on 01/24/2024.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 01/21/2025 is being considered by the examiner.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Fig. 4 {(a)-(d)} description in the brief description of drawings seems to be not adequate and should be amended.
Appropriate correction is required such as changing them to be, as an basic example, to: Step 1 of coupling between grommet and tube, Step 2 of coupling grommet and tube, etc..
Claim Objections
Claims 1 and 5 are objected to because of the following informalities:
“the projection part” should be “the plurality of projections parts”.
Appropriate correction is required.
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) 1-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Remonti (EP2549603).
Regarding Claim 1. Remonti teaches, in Fig. 1-6, a coupling structure comprising: a corrugated tube (72) that is to be inserted into the tubular part (50), wherein: the corrugated tube alternately has a crest part (72 point location) and a trough part (location between 72 point location) (see Fig. 1-2); the tubular part has a plurality of projection parts (43, 42) each provided to protrude to be annular on an inner circumferential surface (6, see Fig. 1-2), and an annular recess part (3) provided on the inner circumferential surface and alternately disposed with the projection part (see Fig. 1-2); and the projection part is provided so as to have a larger pitch than the trough part (see Fig. 1-2).
Regarding Claim 2. Remonti teaches the coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein the tubular part is provided to be more flexible than the corrugated tube, and enlarges a diameter by the crest part coming into contact with the projection part (see Fig. 1-3, and Fig. 4).
Regarding Claim 3. Remonti teaches the coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein the grommet has a small tube part (11) provided to have a smaller diameter than the tubular part (see Fig. 2), and an annular step part (not labeled, but region in between 32, 31) provided from the tubular part to the small tube part.
Regarding Claim 4. Remonti teaches, in Fig. 2, the coupling structure according to claim 3, wherein the step part (see above) functions as a stopper for the corrugated tube when the corrugated tube is inserted into the tubular part (see Fig. 2).
Regarding Claim 5. Remonti teaches, in Fig. 1-6, a grommet (50) that is to be coupled to a corrugated tube (72), the grommet comprising a tubular part (20) that the corrugated tube is to be inserted into, wherein: the tubular part has a plurality of projection parts (43,42) each provided to protrude to be annular on an inner circumferential surface (6) (see Fig. 1-2), and an annular recess part (3) provided on the inner circumferential surface (se Fig .1-2) and alternately disposed with the projection part (43,42) (see Fig. 1-2); and the projection part is provided so as to have a larger pitch than a trough part (location between 72 point location) (see Fig. 1-2) of the corrugated tube (see Fig. 1-2).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure is presented in the Notice of References Cited.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MUHAMMED AZAM whose telephone number is (571)270-0593. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 11:00am-5:00pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, TIMOTHY DOLE can be reached at (571) 272-2229. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MA/Examiner, Art Unit 2847
/Timothy J. Dole/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2847
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