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 with traverse of Species I drawn to Figures 1-4C and claims 1-4, 8-15 and 19-21 in the reply filed on 4/21/26 is acknowledged.
The traversal is on the ground(s) that there should be no undue burden on the Examiner to consider all the claims and that as generic claim 1 is in condition for allowance, the election of species requirement should be withdrawn.
This is not found persuasive because (1) the search required for the elected species would not necessarily include a search for the unelected species since there are structural differences between the species which could necessitate additional search, e.g., searching for a connector assembly with a block portion having a board body and at least one stub versus searching for a connector assembly with an L-shaped, longitudinally protruding block portion, and (2) examination is not limited simply to search. In addition to the search, much of the examination is devoted to determining patentability of the claims. Said determination requires the formulation of rejections and responding to applicant's argument with regard to same. The additional search and the determination of patentability for multiple, patentably distinct species would place serious burden on the examiner. As claim 1 has not been indicated allowable by Examiner at this time, the election of species requirement will not be withdrawn. However, Applicant should note that should an independent generic claim be allowed, the withdrawn claims would be reviewed and rejoined if the allowed claim reads on the withdrawn claims.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Claims 5-7 and 16-18 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 4/21/26.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description:
Figure 7A – drawing elements 931, 932, 923, 922, 921.
Figure 7B – drawing elements 923, 922, 911.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), or amendment to the specification to add the reference character(s) in the description in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(b) 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. 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.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
The following reference characters are shown in the drawings but not mentioned in the description:
Figure 7A – drawing elements 931, 932, 923, 922, 921.
Figure 7B – drawing elements 923, 922, 911.
Page 2, lines 16-20 – It is not clear what Applicant is trying to describe as it appears that these lines are grammatically incorrect.
Page 6, line 24 – add --1-- after “assembly”.
Page 9, line 17 – replace “cavity 331” with --cavity 311--.
Page 14, line 18 – remove “111” after “outer side” as this is not the outer side of the tube.
Page 15, line 3 – delete “is” before “shape”.
Page 15, line 4 - replace “portion 52” with --portion 53--.
Correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Line 1 – add a colon after “comprising”.
Lines 1-2 – add a tab before “a female waterproof connector”.
Line 8 – replace “characterized in that” with --wherein-- to maintain consistency in the claims.
Line 18 – replace “the” before “pressing portion” with --a--.
Correction is required.
Claim 2 is objected to because of the following informalities: Line 14 – replace “more close” with --closer--.
Correction is required.
Claim 3 is objected to because of the following informalities: Line 6 – delete “to” between “facing” and “the”.
Correction is required.
Claim 9 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Line 7 – delete “being” before “approaching”.
Line 7 – delete “to the” after “approaching”.
Line 19 – replace “press-proof member” with --pressing portion--.
Line 24 – add --second-- between “the” and “rear opening”.
Correction is required.
Claim 10 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Line 3 – delete “being” before “approaching”.
Line 3 – delete “to” after “approaching”.
Line 24 – replace “a” before “rear end” with --the--.
Correction is required.
Claim 12 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Line 1 – add a colon after “comprising”.
Lines 6-7 – delete “being” before “approaching”.
Line 7 – delete “to” after “approaching”.
Line 11 – delete “is” before “free”.
Line 8 – replace “characterized in that” with --wherein-- to maintain consistency in the claims.
Line 18 – replace “the” before “pressing portion” with --a--.
Correction is required.
Claim 13 is objected to because of the following informalities: Line 14 – replace “more close” with --closer--.
Correction is required.
Claim 20 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Lines 5-7 – delete “protruding integrally…first tube, and” as these limitations are already recited in claim 12 from which claim 20 depends.
Line 5 – replace “an” before “engaging portion” with --the--.
Correction is required.
Claim 21 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Line 3 – delete “being” before “approaching”.
Line 3 – delete “to the” after “approaching”.
Line 23 – replace “a” before “rear end” with --the--.
Correction is required.
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.
Claims 1-4, 8-11, 14 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) 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 claim 1, the phrase "push type" renders the claim(s) indefinite because the claim(s) include(s) elements not actually disclosed (those encompassed by "push type"), thereby rendering the scope of the claim(s) unascertainable.
Claims 2, 4 and 8-11 are rejected herein due to their dependency on claim 1.
Claim 3 recites “wherein at least one cavity is defined in the inner surface of the pressing portion, when the block portion is moved to the first position, each one of the at least one stub is aligned with one of the at least one cavity.” However, claim 2, from which claim 3 depends, recites a singular cavity as part of the pressing portion. It is not clear how a singular cavity is now at least one cavity aligned with at least one stub. Did Applicant mean to recite at least one cavity in claim 2? Examiner’s understanding is that claim 2 should recite “at least one cavity” rather than “a cavity”. If this understanding is correct, Applicant needs to amend both claims 2 and 3 to reflect this understanding.
Claim 14 recites “wherein at least one cavity is defined in the inner surface of the pressing portion, when the block portion is moved to the first position, each one of the at least one stub is aligned with one of the at least one cavity.” However, claim 13, from which claim 14 depends, recites a singular cavity as part of the pressing portion. It is not clear how a singular cavity is now at least one cavity aligned with at least one stub. Did Applicant mean to recite at least one cavity in claim 13? Examiner’s understanding is that claim 13 should recite “at least one cavity” rather than “a cavity”. If this understanding is correct, Applicant needs to amend both claims 13 and 14 to reflect this understanding.
Claim 15 is rejected herein due to its dependency on claim 14.
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.
Claim(s) 1, 9, 12 and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(1)(1) as being anticipated by Takashima et al U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2024/0328549A1.
With regard to claim 1, and as shown in Figure 5, Takashima et al disclose an axis push type waterproof connector assembly comprising
a female waterproof connector (at 100) and a male waterproof connector (at 200) selectively inserted into the female waterproof connector (as shown in Fig 5), wherein a pressed buckle (at 7) of the female waterproof connector is disposed on an outer side of a first tube (at 5) of the female waterproof connector at a spaced interval, a second tube (at 201) of the male waterproof connector held in the female waterproof connector is engaged with or disengaged from the pressed buckle by a diametrical movement of the pressed buckle, and characterized in that
a press-proof member (at 3) is mounted on the outer side of the first tube of the female waterproof connector and comprises
a pushing portion (as shown in Fig 4 below) mounted longitudinally moveably on the outer side of the first tube and being free from being overlapped with the pressed buckle in a radial direction of the first tube; and
a block portion (as shown in Fig 4 below) integrally protruding from a front end of the pushing portion and being movable with the pushing portion between a first position and a second position of the outer side of the first tube, wherein
when the block portion is moved to the first position of the outer side of the first tube, the pressing portion (at 71) of the pressed buckle is moved relative to the outer side of the first tube at a first distance in the radial direction of the first tube (paragraph 44, lines 7-12 in the locked position where the pressed buckle is not pushed); and
when the block portion is moved to the second position of the outer side of the first tube, the pressing portion (at 71) of the pressed buckle is moved relative to the outer side of the first tube at a second distance in the radial direction of the first tube, wherein the second distance is shorter than the first distance (paragraph 44, lines 7-10 and 12-14 in the unlocking position when the pressed buckle is pushed).
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With regard to claim 9, Takashima et al disclose wherein
the female waterproof connector (at 100 as shown in Fig 4) comprises
a first valve (at 57a) mounted in the first tube (at 5);
the pressed buckle (at 7) further comprises
an engaging portion (at 75) protruding integrally from the pressing portion (at 71), extending diametrically through the first tube (as shown in Fig 4), located at a position being approaching to the a first front opening (opening of 5 next to 66) of the first tube, and being annular; and
a first resilient member (at 11) disposed between the pressing portion (at 71) and the outer side of the first tube (at 5); and
a first water connector (at 9) connecting to the first tube (at 5) and communicating with a first rear opening (opening of 5 next to 55) of the first tube; and
the male waterproof connector (at 200 as shown in Fig 2) comprises
a second valve (at 208) mounted in the second tube (at 201);
a front insertion portion (at 203) having a second front opening (opening at 203a), a hook portion (at 204) formed on an outer side of the front insertion portion, wherein when the front insertion portion is inserted into the first tube of the female waterproof connector, the front insertion portion extends through the engaging portion of the press-proof member and the hook portion is engaged with the engaging portion (as shown in Fig 5); and
a rear connection portion (portion of 201 next to 207) connecting to the front insertion portion and having a second rear opening (opening of 201 connected to 202); and
a second water connector (at 202) connecting to the rear connection portion of the second tube and communicating with the rear opening of the rear connection portion (as shown in Fig 2).
With regard to claim 12, and as shown in Fig 4, Takashima et al disclose a female waterproof connector comprising
a first tube (at 5) comprising a first front opening (opening of 5 next to 66) and a first rear opening (opening of 5 next to 55);
a pressed buckle (at 7) comprising a pressing portion (at 71) and an engaging portion (at 75), wherein the pressing portion is mounted on an outer side of the first tube at a spaced interval, the engaging portion protruding integrally from the pressing portion, extending diametrically through the first tube, and being approaching to the first front opening of the first tube (as shown in Fig 4);
a press-proof member (at 3) is mounted on the outer side of the first tube and comprising
a pushing portion (as shown in Fig 4 above) mounted longitudinally slidably on the outer side of the first tube and being free from being overlapped with the pressed buckle in a radial direction of the first tube; and
a block portion (as shown in Fig 4 above) protruding integrally from a front end of the pushing portion and pushed by the pushing portion to move between a first position and a second position of the outer side of the first tube, wherein
when the block portion is moved to the first position of the outer side of the first tube, the pressing portion (at 71) of the pressed buckle is moved relative to the outer side of the first tube at a first distance in the radial direction of the first tube (paragraph 44, lines 7-12 in the locked position where the pressed buckle is not pushed); and
when the block portion is moved to the second position of the outer side of the first tube, the pressing portion (at 71) of the pressed buckle is moved relative to the outer side of the first tube at a second distance in the radial direction of the first tube, wherein the second distance is shorter than the first distance (paragraph 44, lines 7-10 and 12-14 in the unlocking position when the pressed buckle is pushed).
With regard to claim 20, Takashima et al disclose wherein
the female waterproof connector (at 100 as shown in Fig 4) comprises
a first valve (at 57a) mounted in the first tube (at 5);
the pressed buckle (at 7) further comprises
an engaging portion (at 75) protruding integrally from the pressing portion (at 71), extending diametrically through the first tube (as shown in Fig 4), located at a position being approaching to the a first front opening (opening of 5 next to 66) of the first tube, and being annular; and
a first resilient member (at 11) disposed between the pressing portion (at 71) and the outer side of the first tube (at 5); and
a first water connector (at 9) connecting to the first tube (at 5) and communicating with a first rear opening (opening of 5 next to 55) of the first tube.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 13, 19 and 21 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Claims 2-4, 8, 10, 11, 14 and 15 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.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon are examples of the general mechanical state of the art.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FANNIE KEE whose telephone number is (571)272-1820. The examiner can normally be reached 8am-5pm.
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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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/F.K./Examiner, Art Unit 3679
/Matthew Troutman/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3679
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