IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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`Applicant(s): Noah Montena
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`Examiner: Paumen, Gary F.
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`Serial No.: 12/906,503
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`Group Art Unit: 2833 I Conf. No. 1212
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`Filed: 10/18/2010
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`Docket No.: PPC.6696-NY
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`Title: CONNECTOR HAVING A CONSTANT CONTACT POST
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`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
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`Sir:
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`OFFICE ACTION RESPONSE
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`This communication is in response to the Office Action mailed May 31, 2011.
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`12/906,503
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`1
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`CORNING EXHIBIT 1014
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`In the Specification:
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`Applicants hereby amend the specification to correct an unintentional error in the
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`specification. Applicants contend that no new matter is entered by way of the following
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`amendments.
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`Please amend paragraph 11 of the specification as follows:
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`Some of the embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, with reference to
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`the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:
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`FIG. 1 depicts an exploded perspective cut-away view of an embodiment of the elements
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`of an embodiment of a coaxial cable connector, in accordance with the present invention;
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`FIG. 2 depicts a perspective cut-away view of an embodiment of a connector depicts a
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`perspective view of an embodiment of a post, in accordance with the present invention; and
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`FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a post depicts a perspective cut
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`away view of an embodiment of a connector, in accordance with the present invention.
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`Please amend paragraph 21 of the specification as follows:
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`With continued reference to FIG.I, and additional reference to FIG. 3, post 40 includes a
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`plurality of slots 140 positioned somewhere on or around the post 40 proximate or otherwise
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`near the second end 42. A plurality of slots 140 may be a plurality of openings, spaces, voids,
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`apertures, holes, cuts, channels, grooves, and the like, positioned on the flange 44 and a portion
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`of the post 40 proximate or otherwise near the second end 42 of the post 40. For instance, the
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`slots 140 can be axially aligned with the post 40; moreover, the slots 140 can axially extend
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`through the flange 44 a distance from the second end 42 towards the first end 41.
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`In one
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`embodiment, the slots 140 extend from the second end 42 to proximate or otherwise near the
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`surf ace feature 4 7. In other embodiments, the slots 140 may extend to proximate or otherwise
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`near a third of the length of the post 40. In many embodiments, the distance the slots axially
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`extend through the flange 44 may vary, depending on the amount of deflection sought when
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`compressed and/or the amount of any reactive radially outward force needed to establish and
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`maintain physical and electrical continuity with the port coupling element 30. A post 40 having
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`slots 140 axially extending too far along the post 40 toward the first end 41 may risk a partial or
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`significant loss in the structural integrity of the post 40, and may not achieve the suitable amount
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`of radial force to bias it into a position of interference with the port coupling element 30. Those
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`skilled in the art should appreciate that the slots 130 can be used to make the nut 30 resilient in
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`the radial direction; therefore, slots 130 may vary in size, shape, appearance, and the like. The
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`nut 30 may be made resilient without introducing voids between portions of the nut 30. For
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`example, instead of voids, such as slots 140, the post 40 may have portions separated by
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`webbing, spacers, meshing, flexible material, netting, and the like.
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`Please amend paragraph 26 of the specification as follows:
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`With reference to FIG. 3 FIGs.3, and continued reference to FIG.I, an another
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`embodiment of connector 100 includes a post 40 having a first end 41, a second end 42, and a
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`plurality of engagement fingers 145 proximate or otherwise near the second end 42.
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`Engagement fingers 145 can be portions of the post 40 proximate or otherwise near the second
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`end 42 that are separated, or spaced apart, by slots 140 running axially through the flange 44 and
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`a portion of the post 40 proximate or otherwise near the second end 42. Engagement fingers 145
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`may also be resilient members, biasing members, fingers, biasing fingers, post fingers, teeth,
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`engagement teeth, post teeth, expanding members, flexible members, and the like. The number
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`of engagement fingers 145 depends on the number of slots 140 positioned on the post 40. For
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`example, if the post 40 has six slots 140 axially extending from the second end 42, six
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`engagement fingers 145 would be formed. Moreover, the engagement fingers 145 spaced apart
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`by slots 140, or openings, are resilient in the radial directions (e.g. radially inward and outward).
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`In one non-limiting example, as the nut 30 is operably attached to the post 40, the engagement
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`fingers 145 may slightly compress radially inward to accommodate the attachment of the nut 30.
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`When the nut 30 is attached to the post 40 (i.e. while operably configured), the resilient
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`engagement fingers 145 should flex, expand, or "spring" back in a radially outward direction,
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`applying a constant radial contact force with the nut 30, in particular, the inner surface 35 of the
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`nut 30. The constant radial contact force applied by the engagement fingers 145 against the
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`inside surface of the nut 30 may establish and maintain physical and electrical continuity
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`between the post 40 and the nut 30. In many embodiments, the outer edges 45 of the
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`engagement fingers 145 contact the inner surface 35 of the nut 30. In another embodiment, the
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`engagement fingers 145 are in a biasing relationship with the port coupling element.
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`In the Claims:
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`The claims are as follows:
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`1. (Original) A coaxial cable connector comprising:
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`a connector body attached to a post, the post including a first end, a second end,
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`and a flange proximate the second end;
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`a port coupling element attached to the post, wherein the port coupling element is
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`rotatable about the post; and
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`a plurality of openings on the post, the plurality of openings extending a distance
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`toward the first end from the flange.
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`2.
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`(Original) The connector of claim 1, wherein an outer edge of the flange exerts a constant
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`radial force against an inner surface of the port coupling element to establish and maintain
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`physical and electrical continuity between the post and the port coupling element.
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`3. (Original) The connector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings are axially extending
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`slots across the flange and a portion of the post which allow radial movement of the flange.
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`4.
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`(Original) The connector of claim 1, further comprising:
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`a fastener member, wherein the fastener member is configured to operate on and
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`deform the connector body sealingly compressing it against and affixing it to a coaxial
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`cable.
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`5. (Original) A coaxial cable connector comprising:
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`a connector body attached to a post, the post having a first end and an opposing
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`second end;
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`a port coupling element rotatable about the post, wherein the port coupling
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`element has an inner surface; and
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`a plurality of engagement fingers proximate the second end, wherein the plurality
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`of engagement fingers are biased into a position of interference with the inner surf ace of
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`the port coupling element.
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`6.
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`(Original) The connector of claim 5, wherein an outer edge of each of the plurality of
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`engagement fingers exerts a constant radial force against an inner surf ace of the port coupling
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`element to establish and maintain physical and electrical continuity between the post and the
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`port coupling element.
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`7. (Original) The connector of claim 5, further comprising:
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`a fastener member, wherein the fastener member is configured to operate on and
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`deform the connector body sealingly compressing it against and affixing it to a coaxial
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`cable.
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`8.
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`(Original) The connector of claim 5, wherein the plurality of engagement fingers are spaced
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`apart by axially aligned slots positioned on the post proximate the second end.
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`9.
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`(Original) A coaxial cable connector comprising:
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`a connector body attached to a post, the post having a first end, an opposing
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`second end, and a slotted flange, the slotted flange being resilient in a radial direction;
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`and
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`a port coupling element attached to the post, wherein a positioning of the port
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`coupling element radially compresses the slotted flange, further wherein the slotted
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`flange exerts an opposing radial contact force against an inner wall of the port coupling
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`element;
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`wherein the opposing radial contact force establishes and maintains physical and
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`electrical contact between the port coupling element and the post regardless of the axial
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`position of the post and the port coupling element.
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`10. (Original) The connector of claim 9, wherein the slotted flange includes a plurality of axially
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`aligned openings that space apart portions of the flange and the post.
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`11. (Original) The connector of claim 9, further comprising:
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`a fastener member, wherein the fastener member is configured to operate on and
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`deform the connector body sealingly compressing it against and affixing it to a coaxial
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`cable.
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`12. (Original) The connector of claim 9, wherein the opposing radial contact force is constant.
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`13. (Original) A method for maintaining ground continuity in a connector comprising:
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`providing a connector body attached to a post, the post having a first end, an
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`opposing second end, and a flange having a plurality of openings positioned thereon; and
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`biasing the flange in a position of interference with a port coupling element, the
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`port coupling element being attached to post.
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`14. (Original) The method of claim 13, wherein an outer edge of the flange exerts a constant
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`radial contact force against the inner surface of the port coupling element;
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`15. (Original) The method of claim 13, further comprising:
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`a fastener member, wherein the fastener member is configured to operate on and
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`deform the connector body sealingly compressing it against and affixing it to a coaxial
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`cable.
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`16. (Original) The method of claim 13, wherein the flange is resilient.
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`17. (Original) The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of openings are axially aligned
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`slots, that space apart portions of the flange and the post.
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`18. (Original) A method for maintaining electrical continuity with a port comprising:
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`providing a connector body attached to a post, the post having a first end and an
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`opposing second end, a port coupling element rotatable about the post, wherein the port
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`coupling element has an internal surf ace, and a plurality of engagement fingers proximate
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`the second end, the plurality of engagement fingers being resilient in a radial direction;
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`and
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`compressing the plurality of engagement fingers in a radially inward direction,
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`wherein the compression of the plurality of engagement fingers by a positioning of the
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`port coupling element results in the plurality of engagement fingers exerting a radially
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`outward force against the port coupling element;
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`wherein the radially outward force against the port coupling element establishes
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`and maintains physical and electrical continuity between the post and the port coupling
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`element regardless of the relative axial position between the post and the port coupling
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`element.
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`19. (Original) The method of claim 18, wherein the outer edge of each of the plurality of
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`engagement fingers constantly contact the internal surface of the port coupling element when
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`the plurality of engagement fingers exert the radially outward force against the port coupling
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`element.
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`20. (Original) The method of claim 18, further comprising:
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`a fastener member, wherein the fastener member is configured to operate on and
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`deform the connector body sealingly compressing it against and affixing it to a coaxial
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`cable.
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`21. (Original) The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of engagement fingers are spaced
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`apart by axially aligned slots positioned on the post proximate the second end.
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`REMARKS
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`Applicants have not amended the claims during instant prosecution of this patent
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`application. Applicants are not conceding in this patent application that said original claims are
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`not patentable over the art cited by the Examiner.
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`The Examiner rejected claims 1-21 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as allegedly being
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`unpatentable over Bence et al. (U.S. Patent No. 7,114,990) in view of Spencer (U.S. Patent No.
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`4,979,911).
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`Applicants respectfully traverse the § 103 rejection with the following arguments:
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`35 U.S.C. § 103(a)
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`The Examiner rejected claims 1-21 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as allegedly being
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`unpatentable over Bence et al. (U.S. Patent No. 7,114,990) in view of Spencer (U.S. Patent No.
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`4,979,911) (the "cited references").
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`Applicants respectfully contend that claims 1-21 are not obvious over the cited references
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`because one having ordinary skill would not combine Bence et al. with Spencer. The connector
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`taught by Bence et al. includes an additional grounding member "110" which "contacts both the
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`tubular post 104 and the coupling nut 105 for providing an electrically-conductive path
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`therebetween .. . "(See Col. 6, lines7-9) In other words, the grounding member "110" attempts to
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`establish electrical continuity with the coupling nut "105" and the post "105." Thus, slotting the
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`post "105" of the connector taught by Bence et al. would render the grounding member "110"
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`obsolete. The grounding member "110" is disposed within the connector to ensure electrical
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`contact between the post "104" and the nut "105." Hence, one of ordinary skill in the art would
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`seek to enhance electrical connectivity of the connector of Bence et al. by including slots in the
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`post "104" requiring further machining/manufacturing time and expense, when the connector of
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`Bence et al. is already utilizing the grounding member "110" to accomplish such a purpose; the
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`proposed combination runs contrary to the teachings and objectives of Bence et al. Furthermore,
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`slotting the post of Bence et al. would interfere with the performance of the grounding
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`member because the grounding member would get stuck between, or otherwise become
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`physically impeded by contact with the hypothetical slots on the post, thereby hindering
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`operation of the connector and damaging the grounding member, or at the very least restricting
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`and/or preventing contact with the nut which is the main purpose of the Bence et al. connector.
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`(See FIGs. 4-5A) Bence et al. disclose multiple embodiments of a grounding member, and all
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`of which would be rendered obsolete by slotting the post, and very likely destroyed by the slotted
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`openings in the post as a result of the connector being compressed and tightened onto a port.
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`Therefore, Applicants respectfully contend that claims 1-21 are not obvious because one having
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`ordinary skill in the art would not have made such a combination that destroys and at the very
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`least renders the objective of the primary reference obsolete.
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`Moreover, Applicants respectfully contend that the claim limitations are not obvious and
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`unpatentable over Bence et al. in view of Spencer because a person having ordinary skill in the
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`art would not be motivated to combine the collet "1" with the Bence et al. connector. The
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`Examiner asserts that it would have been obvious to provide the flanged post of Bence et al. with
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`slots to permit greater deflection, and cites the slotted collet "1" taught by Spencer to allegedly
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`provide the necessary teaching. First, the post required by the claim limitations is configured to
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`be inserted under the conductive grounding shield, unlike the collet "1" which is designed to fit
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`over the shield "32." (See Col. 3, lines 43-44) Secondly, the post required by the claim
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`limitations exerts a biasing force against a port coupling element to extend continuity between
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`the port coupling element and the post, unlike the collet "1" which is compressed against the
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`conductive shield "32" of the cable. (See Col. 3, lines 56-60) Simply put, the collet "1" is
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`designed to fit over the grounding shield "32" so that the hat "2" can compress the collet "1"
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`onto the shield "32" to enhance electrical and mechanical contact therebetween. Removing the
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`collet "1" and inserting it into the Bence et al. connector would prevent the collet "1" from
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`operating as designed. The electrical connector taught by Spencer is designed to enhance
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`mechanical and electrical connection with the cable, not with the coupling nut.
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`Additionally, Spencer does not teach an embodiment of the collet "1" without the hat "2."
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`The functionality of the collet "1" is dependent upon the operation of the hat "2." Therefore, one
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`having ordinary skill in the art would not be motivated to separate the collet "1" from the hat "2"
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`as suggested by the Examiner, based on the express teachings of Spencer. The effectiveness of
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`the collet "1" is directly the result of the hat "2" compressing the collet "1" onto the shield "32."
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`For instance, the collet "1" is externally tapered while the hat "2" is internally tapered to promote
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`compression of the collet "1." Specifically, Spencer teaches:
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`"[t]he hat (2) is then pulled back over the collet (1) while maintaining the collet
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`(1) in its fitted position, mating the internal taper of the hat (2) with the external
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`taper of the collet (1). The taper and inside dimension of the hat is such that it
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`causes compression of the collet .. . "(Col. 3, lines 46-50) (emphasis added)
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`Bence et al. do not teach a component similar to the hat "2" which would be necessary to
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`effectuate radial compression of the collet "1"; therefore, one having ordinary skill in the art
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`would not combine Bence et al. with Spencer, as asserted by the Examiner. Accordingly, the
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`teachings of Spencer suggest that the hat "2" must be present in addition to the slots on the collet
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`"1."
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`Furthermore, one having ordinary skill in the art would not substitute the collet "1" of
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`Spencer with the post "104" of Bence et al, because those in the art appreciate that the slotted
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`collet "1" of Spencer would not be operable with Bence et al., since the collet "1" of Spencer is
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`configured for compression by the hat "2". For instance, Spencer informs those in the art that
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`the slotted collet "1" is to be compressed onto the grounding shield "32" to enhance the electrical
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`connection with the shield "32." If the slotted collet "1" was inserted into the Bence et al.
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`connector, which teaches that the post "104" is underneath the grounding shield layer, or outer
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`conductor "304" of Bence et al, the collet "1" would be compressed by the outer conductive
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`shield layer "304" of the cable in a manner permitting it to only engage the inner dielectric and
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`would not, therefore, permit expansion of the collet "1" against the nut to enhance electrical
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`continuity. Thus, those in the art understand that importation of the collet "1" of Spencer would
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`actually destroy the operability of the Bence et al connector, by preventing essential contact
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`between post and the nut, because the post (or substituted collet "1") would be compressed in the
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`opposite direction and out of engagement with the nut by the outer conductive shield "304" of
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`the cable. Because a substitution of the Bence et al. post with the collet "1" taught by Spencer
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`goes against the express teachings of Bence et al., one having ordinary skill in the art would not
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`combine Bence et al. with Spencer.
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`Applicants further respectfully contend that a rejection of a claim on grounds of
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`obviousness though use of a cited reference or a combination of cited references requires that
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`the cited references teach enablement for combining subject matter in the cited references to
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`make and use the claimed invention. In re Kumar, 76 USPQ2d 1048 (Fed. Cir. 2005) is the
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`current controlling case law regarding the requirement that the prior art must enable claimed
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`subject matter. In In re Kumar, the Federal Circuit states: "Although published subject matter is
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`"prior art" for all that it discloses, in order to render an invention unpatentable for obviousness,
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`the prior art must enable a person of ordinary skill to make and use the invention.... To render a
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`later invention unpatentable for obviousness, the prior art must enable a person of ordinary skill
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`in the field to make and use the later invention." (emphasis added), Kumar, 76 USPQ2d at
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`1052, 1053. Here, the combination of cited references does not teach enablement for the
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`substitution of the collet "1" taught by Spencer for the post "104" taught by Bence et al. In
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`addition, the combination of the cited references does not teach enablement of simply slotting the
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`post "104,'' as required by the claim limitations. Noticeably silent in the combination of cited
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`references is any enabling disclosure of a post, such as post "104" taught by Bence et al.,
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`including a slotted flange to ensure a constant contact with a port coupling element, such as a
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`nut. The Examiner makes an unsupported assertion that it would be obvious; but, as discussed
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`supra, the cited references (particularly the contrary structure and function of the collet "1" of
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`Spencer as compared with the intended operation of post "104 of Bence et al.) do not enable such
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`a substitution, or modification.
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`Applicants would also like to point out that the connector, as defined by the claim
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`limitations, ensures electrical continuity between moveable components regardless of whether or
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`not the connector is fully tightened onto a port or mated with a corresponding connector or splice
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`connection. For instance, when the connector is not mated onto a port, the slotted post ensures
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`mechanical interference between the port and the coupling element. The slots running along the
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`collet "1" taught by Spencer, as disposed within the connector taught by Bence et al., simply do
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`not afford a connector this advantage, and certainly not without a tapered sleeve of a hat "2" to
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`operate with the collet "1."
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`Based on the foregoing, Applicants respectfully request reconsideration and removal of
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`the obviousness rejection, and further contend that claims 1-21 are in condition for allowance.
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`CONCLUSION
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`Based on the preceding arguments, Applicants respectfully believe that all pending
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`claims and the entire application meet the acceptance criteria for allowance and therefore request
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`favorable action. If the Examiner believes that anything further would be helpful to place the
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`application in better condition for allowance, Applicants invite the Examiner to contact
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`Applicants' representative at the telephone number listed below. The Director is hereby
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`authorized to charge and/or credit Deposit Account 19-0513.
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`Date: August 31, 2011
`
`/Jonathan M. Madsen/
`Jonathan M. Madsen
`Registration No. 55,419
`Customer No. 72687
`Schmeiser, Olsen & Watts
`22 Century Hill Drive, Suite 302
`Latham, New York 12110
`(518) 220-1850
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