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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Species 2, Figures 7-18, claims 11-16, and 18, in the reply filed on 5/11/26 is acknowledged. Since claim 11 depends on claim 2 which depend on claim 1 they have also been examined as well. Claims 1-2 and 11-16 and 18 are pending.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore,
In claims 1, 2 and 11, the phrases: “an auxiliary contact assembly”, “shaft assy”, “a first installation structure”; “second installation structure”,
must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a) because they fail to show “an auxiliary contact assembly”, “shaft assy”, “a first installation structure”; “second installation structure”, as described in the specification. Any structural detail that is essential for a proper understanding of the disclosed invention should be shown in the drawing. MPEP § 608.02(d). 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.
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.
This is an exemplary of the errors. Applicant should carefully review the entire specification/drawings to fix this issue.
Use consistent phraseology to describe a component, part or element in the specification/drawings.
Please ensure that the remainder of elements referenced in the specification are accurately accounted for in the Drawings.
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, 2, 11-16 and 18 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.
The term “capable of” in claims 1, 11, 12, 13, 13 and 18 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “capable of” 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
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.
Claims 1 and 2 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) or (a)(2) as being anticipated by Zhang, Cheng-Cheng (CN 106531560 A).
Regarding claim 1, Zhang discloses a device comprising:
a main contact assembly (see the drawing below),
an auxiliary contact assembly (104) and
a shaft assy (113),
wherein an upper end portion of the shaft assy (113) is connected to the main contact assembly (see the drawing below) and the auxiliary contact assembly (104), respectively, so as to drive and control the main contact assembly (see the drawing below) and the auxiliary contact assembly (104) to perform operation state switching, respectively,
wherein an installation frame (109) is provided, the installation frame (109) covers an outside of the upper end portion of the shaft assy (113), and the installation frame (113) is provided with,
on a side vertical wall (see the drawing below),
a first installation structure (107) configured to carry and limit the auxiliary contact assembly (104), wherein through a combination of the first installation structure (107) and the shaft assy (113),
the auxiliary contact assembly is capable of being formed into a normally-closed auxiliary contact assembly (K1).
[AltContent: textbox (Main contact assembly)]
[AltContent: arrow][AltContent: arrow][AltContent: textbox (Side vertical wall)]
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Regarding claim 2, Zhang discloses:
the installation frame (109) is in an inverted U shape, and fixedly covers the outside of the upper end portion of the shaft assy (113), and
the installation frame (109) is provided with the first installation structure on at least one of two side vertical walls (see the drawing above).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 11-16 and 18 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, and the objections 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 teach or suggest the small-size HV DC contactor comprising:
Claim 11: a first side vertical wall of the installation frame is provided with one first installation structure, and a second side vertical wall of the installation frame is provided with one second installation structure; and the auxiliary contact assembly is capable of being selectively provided on the first installation structure or the second installation structure, wherein when the auxiliary contact assembly is provided on the first installation structure, the auxiliary contact assembly is formed into the normally-closed auxiliary contact assembly; and when the auxiliary contact assembly is provided on the second installation structure, the auxiliary contact assembly is formed into a normally-open auxiliary contact assembly.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication should be directed to Lisa Homza whose telephone number is (571) 272-3592.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Shawki Ismail can be reached on (571) 272-3985. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Lisa Nhung Homza/
Patent Examiner - Art Unit 2837
May 22, 2026
/SHAWKI S ISMAIL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2837
Prosecution Insights