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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because a bracket ([]) should embrace the illustrations of Figures 1 and 9. 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. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. 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 § 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 11, 17 and 28 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.
Regarding claims 11, 17 and 28, the phrase "optionally" renders the claim(s) indefinite because the claim(s) include(s) elements not actually disclosed (those encompassed by "optionally"), thereby rendering the scope of the claim(s) unascertainable.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-6, 8, 13-16, 19-22, 24, 25 and 27 are allowed.
Claims 11, 17 and 28 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art does not disclose a connector assembly, comprising a first connector and a second connector for being connected with the first connector, wherein the first connector comprises a first connector body defining an axial direction and a locking sleeve sleeved outside the first connector body and retained on the first connector body in a rotatable manner, wherein the locking sleeve comprises a locking slot provided in a tubular wall of the locking sleeve and a guiding protrusion arranged at an axial end of the tubular wall and adjacent to the locking slot; wherein the second connector comprises a second connector body configured to be adapted to be inserted between the locking sleeve and the first connector body along the axial direction, and the second connector body comprises a locking protrusion arranged at an outer periphery of the second connector body; wherein the locking sleeve is configured such that: during the insertion of the second connector body between the locking sleeve and the first connector body along the axial direction, the locking sleeve is capable of rotating in response to the locking protrusion pushing the guiding protrusion, to allow the locking protrusion to move along the guiding protrusion and into the locking slot; wherein the locking protrusion is capable of engaging with the locking slot to prevent the second connector body from disengaging from the locking sleeve.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure because it illustrates the state of the art.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AARON M DUNWOODY whose telephone number is (571)272-7080. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Matthew Troutman can be reached at 571-270-3654. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/AARON M DUNWOODY/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679