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
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on January 30, 2025 and January 29, 2026 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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.
Claims 1-6 are 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 3 recites the limitation " the second holding members " in lines 18 and 19. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 3 recites the limitation " or the surface portions " in line 20. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
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.
Claim(s) 1-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Takahashi (JP 2023019502).
In regard to claim 1, Takahashi teaches a coupling structure (10) comprising: a retainer (37) including a first holding member (39) and a plurality of grooves (37b) in which a plurality of harnesses (41) are disposed, and the second holding member (15) being disposed to be opposed to the first holding member (39) and closing the grooves (15c) ; a connector (31, 60, 11, 14) coupled to the harnesses (41); and an outer cover (90) provided around outer peripheries of the retainer and the connector (31, 60, 11, 14).
In regard to claim 2, Takahashi teaches the coupling structure of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of each of the grooves (37b) is a curved surface (see figure 4).
In regard to claim 3, Takahashi teaches the coupling structure of claim 1, wherein the grooves (37b) are formed in one surface portion or a plurality of surface portions of the first holding member (39), and the second holding member (15) is disposed to be opposed to the surface portion of the first holding member (39)(see figure 4).
In regard to claim 4, Takahashi teaches the coupling structure of claim 1, wherein the connector includes a plurality of terminal holes (11, figure 4) in which the harnesses (41)are inserted, respectfully, and the retainer (37) is disposed to be opposed to an end surface of the connector (60), the terminal holes (11) being formed in the end surface (see figure 4).
In regard to claim 5, Takahashi teaches the coupling structure of claim 1, wherein the harnesses are engine harnesses (engine, paragraph [0029]).
In regard to claim 6, Takahashi teaches a vehicle including the coupling structure of any one of claim 1 (vehicle, paragraph [0029]).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Wang (US 2024/0372293) teaches a charger cable; He (US 2024/0305047) teaches an electrical connector. Martin (US 2023/0268693) teaches an electrical contact for a connector).
Communication
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KRYSTAL ROBINSON whose telephone number is (571)272-9258. The examiner can normally be reached on 9-5 M-F.
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, Timothy Dole can be reached on (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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/KRYSTAL ROBINSON/Examiner, Art Unit 2848
