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 .
Response to Restriction
The Examiner acknowledges that the Applicant has elected the invention drawn to Figure 1 for examination.
Claim Objections
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(s) 14 is/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 14 recites the limitation "connector" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
The term “elongated cross-section” in claim 14 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “elongated cross-section” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 12-17, 19, 22-23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Altenburg (EP 1006035 A1).
Regarding claim 12, Altenburg discloses a panel connector comprising:
a first head (Fig. 2, pin 13);
a second head (Fig. 2, sleeve 15);
a linkage connecting the first head and the second head for drawing the first head and the second head together (Fig. 2, locking ring bolt 27);
and a plug arranged on the first head (Fig. 2, the left-most extend of pin 13 is a plug received by sleeve 15);
the second head having a socket for receiving the plug (See id) as the first head and the second head are drawn together by the linkage (Fig. 2, locking ring bolt 27 and associated components connect the pin and sleeve).
Regarding claim 13, Altenburg discloses wherein the plug is attached to the first head (Fig. 2, the extent of the pin 13 is integral with the rest of the pin).
Regarding claim 14, as best understood by the Examiner, Altenburg discloses wherein the plug has an elongated cross-section defining an elongation, the elongation extending in an insertion direction of the connector (Fig. 2, the pin 13 has a cross-section and extends into the sleeve).
Regarding claim 15, Altenburg discloses wherein the linkage includes a leadscrew mounted on either the first head or the second head (Fig. 2, bolt 27), and a threaded nut mounted on the other of the first head or the second head, the leadscrew screwingly engaging the threaded nut (Fig. 2, foot 26).
Regarding claim 16, Altenburg discloses wherein the leadscrew extends through the plug (Fig. 2, bolt 27 extends through both components).
Regarding claim 17, Altenburg discloses wherein the plug forms a ring, and the leadscrew passes through the ring (Fig. 2, bolt 27 extends through a circular opening).
Regarding claim 19, Altenburg discloses wherein the first head and the plug are integral (Fig. 2, the extent of the pin 13 is integral with the rest of the pin).
Regarding claim 22, Altenburg discloses wherein the plug has a first lateral abutment surface and a second lateral abutment surface configured for abutting against at least one panel in which the connector is inserted (Fig. 2, opposing exterior sides of pin 13).
Regarding claim 23, Altenburg discloses wherein the plug has a taper zone, wherein the socket is configured for receiving only the taper zone of the plug as the first head and the second head are drawn together by the linkage (Fig. 2, the left-most extent of pin 13 is narrower than the right-most extent).
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.
Claim(s) 21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Altenburg (EP 1006035 A1) in view of Andreini (US Pub. 2014/0079474 A1).
Regarding claim 21, Altenburg discloses the claimed invention except for as taught by Andreini, similarly drawn to a joint for coupling fittings together, at least one dowel pin embedded both within the first head and within the second head (Fig. 2, fasteners 312).
It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the connector of Altenburg to include the dowels of Andreini for improved alignment of the heads with respect to each other.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HENRY HOOPER MUDD whose telephone number is (571)272-5941. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Joshua Michener can be reached at 5712721467. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/HENRY HOOPER MUDD/Examiner, Art Unit 3642
/JOSHUA J MICHENER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3642
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