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IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`Application of
`
`Applicants
`Serial No.
`Filed
`Title
`
`: Donald Andrew Burris
`: 13/652,969
`: October 16, 2012
`: COAXIAL CABLE CONNECTOR WITH INTEGRAL CONTINUITY
`
`CONTACTING PORTION
`
`Docket
`
`: HI 12-019
`
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`
`: Chung Trans, Xuong My
`: 2833
`
`Conf. No.
`
`: 7208
`
`MAIL STOP AMENDMENT
`
`Commissioner for Patents
`
`P.O. Box 1450
`
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`Sir:
`
`AMENDMENT
`
`This paper is being filed in response to the Office Action mailed December
`
`19, 2014. Reconsideration of the present application is respectfully requested in
`
`light of the amendments and remarks below, which include, in order of
`
`appearance, beginning on separate sheets:
`
`- Amendments to the Claims; and
`
`- Remarks.
`
`PPC Exhibit 2007
`
`Coming v. PPC
`|PR2016—O1569
`
`

`
`Serial No. 13/652,969
`Docket HI12-O19
`
`Amendments to the Claims
`
`The following listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of
`
`claims in the present application:
`
`1. (Currently amended) A coaxial cable connector for coupling an end of a coaxial
`
`cable to a terminal, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric
`
`surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric, and
`
`a jacket surrounding the outer conductor, the connector comprising:
`
`a coupler adapted to couple the connector to a terminal, the coupler
`
`comprising a lip extending into a central passage defined by the coupler;
`
`a body assembled with the coupler, and
`
`a post assembled with the coupler and the body, the post comprising a flange
`
`disposed at a front end of the post, wherein the post is adapted to receive an end of
`
`a coaxial cable, and
`
`wherein at least one of the coupler,—the—leedy and the post comprises an
`
`integral contacting portion disposed between the flange of the post and the lip of the
`
`coupler, the integral contacting portion extending between the coupler and post, and
`
`wherein the contacting portion is monolithic with at least a portion of the at least one
`
`of the coupler,—the—leedy and the post, and wherein when the connector is coupled to
`
`the terminal and a coaxial cable is received by the body, the contacting portion
`
`provides for electrical continuity from an outer conductor of the coaxial cable through
`
`the connector to the terminal regardless of the tightness of the coupling of the
`
`connector to the terminal.
`
`2. (Original) The connector of claim 1, wherein electrical continuity from an outer
`
`conductor of the coaxial cable through the connector to the terminal is provided
`
`other than by a separate continuity component.
`
`

`
`Serial No. 13/652,969
`Docket HI12-019
`
`3. (Original) The connector of claim 1, wherein the contacting portion is constructed
`
`of a material having an elastic/plastic property allowing it to maintain electrical and
`
`mechanical contact notwithstanding any interstice between components of the
`
`connector when assembled.
`
`4. (Original) The connector of claim 1, wherein the contacting portion is formable.
`
`5. (Original) The connector of claim 4, wherein the contacting portion forms to a
`
`contour of at least one of the coupler and the post when the post is at least partially
`
`assembled with the coupler.
`
`6. (Withdrawn) The connector of claim 4, wherein the contacting portion forms to a
`
`contour of at least one of the body and the post when the post is at least partially
`
`assembled with the body.
`
`7. (Original) The connector of claim 4, wherein the contacting portion forms to at
`
`least a partially arcuate shape.
`
`8. (Original) The connector of claim 1, wherein the electrical continuity means a DC
`
`contact resistance from the outer conductor of the coaxial cable to the equipment
`
`port through the connector of less than about 3000 milliohms.
`
`9. (Currently Amended) A coaxial cable connector for coupling an end of a coaxial
`
`cable to a terminal, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a dielectric
`
`surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the dielectric, and
`
`a jacket surrounding the outer conductor, the connector comprising:
`
`a coupler having a central bore and adapted to couple the connector to a
`
`terminal; and
`
`a body having a central passage assembled with the coupler, and
`
`

`
`Serial No. 13/652,969
`Docket HI12-O19
`
`a post having a front end and a back end, the post assembled with the
`
`coupler and the body, wherein the post is disposed at least partially within the
`
`central passage of the body and at least partially within the central bore of the
`
`coupler, and wherein the body and the post are adapted to receive an end of a
`
`coaxial cable, and
`
`wherein the post comprises a flange and an integral contacting portion
`
`disposed rearward of the flange, the integral contacting portion that—provides for
`
`electrical continuity from an outer conductor of the coaxial cable received by the
`
`body and the post through the connector to the terminal coupled by the coupler
`
`regardless of the tightness of the coupling of the connector to the terminal, and
`
`wherein the contacting portion is constructed from a single piece of material with at
`
`least a portion of the post.
`
`10. (Original) The connector of claim 9, wherein the contacting portion is constructed
`
`of a material having an elastic/plastic property allowing it to maintain electrical and
`
`mechanical contact notwithstanding any interstice between components of the
`
`connector when assembled.
`
`11. (Original) The connector of claim 9, wherein the contacting portion is formable.
`
`12. (Original) The connector of claim 11 wherein the contacting portion forms based
`
`on a contour of at least one of the body and the coupler when the post at least
`
`partially assembles with one of the body and the coupler.
`
`13. (Original) The connector of claim 11, wherein the contacting portion forms to at
`
`least a partially arcuate shape.
`
`14. (Previously presented) The connector of claim 11, wherein the contacting portion
`
`forms in response to a forming tool.
`
`

`
`Serial No. 13/652,969
`Docket HI12-O19
`
`15. (Original) The connector of claim 9, wherein the contacting portion is a
`
`protrusion.
`
`16. (Original) The connector of claim 9, wherein the contacting portion is radially
`
`projecting.
`
`17. (Original) The connector of claim 9, wherein the contacting portion has a multi-
`
`cornered configuration.
`
`18. (Withdrawn) The connector of claim 9, wherein the contacting portion is
`
`segmented.
`
`19. (Currently amended) A method of providing electrical continuity in a coaxial
`
`cable connector, comprising:
`
`providing components of a coaxial cable connector, wherein at least one of
`
`the components has an integral, formable contacting portion protruding away from
`
`the at least one of the components toward another component, wherein the
`
`contacting portion is monolithic with the at least one of the components; and
`
`assembling the components to provide a coaxial cable connector, wherein the
`
`assembling forms the contacting portion to a contour
`
`eempenents of the other component,
`
`wherein the contacting portion forms in at least a partially arcuate shape.
`
`20. (Original) The method of claim 19, wherein the components are composed from
`
`the group consisting of a coupler, a body, and a post.
`
`21. (Original) The method of claim 19, further comprising:
`
`receiving by one of the components a coaxial cable, and
`
`coupling by one of the components the coaxial cable connector to a terminal.
`
`

`
`Serial No. 13/652,969
`Docket HI12-O19
`
`22. (Original) The method of claim 19, wherein the contacting portion provides for
`
`electrical continuity from an outer conductor of the coaxial cable through the
`
`connector to the terminal other than by a separate component and regardless of the
`
`adequacy of the coupling of the connector to the terminal.
`
`23. (Original) The method of claim 19, wherein is the contacting portion is
`
`constructed of a material having an elastic/plastic property allowing it to maintain
`
`electrical and mechanical contact notwithstanding any interstice between
`
`components when assembled.
`
`24. (Currently amended) A coaxial cable connector for coupling an end of a
`
`coaxial cable to a terminal, the coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor, a
`
`dielectric surrounding the inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the
`
`dielectric, and a jacket surrounding the outer conductor, the connector,
`
`comprising:
`
`a coupler adapted to couple the connector to a terminal; and
`
`a body assembled with the coupler, wherein the body is adapted to
`
`receive an end of a
`
`coaxial cable, and
`
`wherein at least one of the coupler and the body comprises an integral
`
`contacting portion extending between the coupler and the body, and wherein the
`
`contacting portion is monolithic with at least a portion of the at least one of the
`
`coupler and the body, and
`
`wherein when the connector is coupled to the terminal and a coaxial cable
`
`is received by the body, the contacting portion provides for electrical continuity
`
`from an outer conductor of the coaxial cable through the connector to the
`
`terminal other than by a separate component and regardless of the tightness of
`
`the coupling of the connector to the terminal.
`
`

`
`Serial No. 13/652,969
`Docket HI12-019
`
`25. (Original) The connector of claim 24, wherein the contacting portion is
`
`constructed of a material having an elastic/plastic property allowing it to maintain
`
`electrical and mechanical contact notwithstanding any interstice between
`
`components of the connector when assembled.
`
`26 (Original) The connector of claim 24, wherein the contacting portion is
`
`formable.
`
`27. (Original) The connector of claim 26, wherein the contacting portion forms to
`
`a contour of at least one of the body and the coupler when the body at least
`
`partially assembles with the coupler.
`
`28. (Original) The connector of claim 26, wherein the contacting portion forms in
`
`at least a partially arcuate shape.
`
`29. (Original) The connector of claim 24, further comprising a post assembled
`
`with the coupler and the body.
`
`30. (Original) The connector of claim 24, wherein the electrical continuity means a
`
`DC contact resistance from the outer conductor of the coaxial cable to the
`
`equipment port through the connector of less than about 3000 milliohms.
`
`

`
`Serial No. 13/652,969
`Docket HI12-019
`
`REMARKS
`
`This paper is responsive to the Office action mailed December 19, 2014
`
`(herein after the “Office action”). Prior to entry of this Amendment and
`
`Response, claims 1-30 are pending, of which claims 6 and 18 stand withdrawn.
`
`Claims 1-5, 7-17 and 19-30 stand rejected.
`
`in this Amendment and Response,
`
`claims 1, 9, 19 and 24 are amended without prejudice or disclaimer. Support for
`
`the amendments can be found throughout the originally-filed application. See,
`
`e.g., paragraphs [0061] through [0063], [0075], [0081] through [0086] and
`
`Figures 2-5, 13 and 21-23 of the originally-filed application. No claims have been
`
`canceled or added.
`
`It is respectfully submitted that in light of the remarks below,
`
`all of the claims are now in condition for allowance. Reconsideration and
`
`reexamination are respectfully requested.
`
`Provisional Double Patenting Rejections
`
`Claims 1-5, 7-17 and 19-30 have been provisionally rejected on the
`
`grounds of non-statutory double patenting as being purportedly unpatentable
`
`over claims 1-24 of copending US application no 13/833,793, claims 1-4, 15, 16
`
`of copending US application no 13/605,498 and claims 1-8, 13-18 and 21 of
`
`copending US application no 13/653,095.
`
`Applicant notes that the rejection is provisional at this point because the
`
`other applications have not been patented. Applicant will address these
`
`rejections at the time the rejection matures into an actual rejection.
`
`Rejections Under 35 U.S.C. § 102
`
`Claims 1-4, 9-11, 19-26 and 29 stand rejected as purportedly anticipated
`
`under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) by United States patent no. 8,075,338 to Montena
`
`(Montena ‘338) and/or United States patent no. 8,323,053 to Montena (Montena
`
`‘053).
`
`In order to reject a claim under 35 U.S.C. 102(e), “[t]he reference must
`
`teach each and every element of the claim.” MPEP § 2131.
`
`It is respectfully
`
`submitted that Montena ‘338 and Montena ‘053 each fail to disclose each and
`
`

`
`Serial No. 13/652,969
`Docket HI12-O19
`
`every feature of the rejected claims. Thus, Applicant respectfully traverses this
`
`rejection for at least the following reasons.
`
`Claims 1-4 and 9-11
`
`Claim 1, from which claims 2-4 depend, has been amended to recite, inter
`
`alia, “wherein at least one of the coupler, the body and the post comprises an
`
`integral contacting portion disposed between the flange of the post and the lip of
`
`the coupler, the integral contacting portion extending between the coupler and
`
`post.”
`
`Claim 9, from which claims 10 and 11 depend, has been amended to
`
`recite, inter alia, “an integral contacting portion disposed rearward of the flange.”
`
`In contrast to claims 1-4 and 9-11, Montena ‘338 discloses a coaxial
`
`connector in which a post includes a plurality of openings or slots in between a
`
`plurality of fingers at the flange of the post.
`
`In various embodiments,
`
`Montena ‘338 provides contact between the flange (e.g., the plurality of fingers
`
`formed in the flange) and a port coupling element. Montena ‘338 fails to
`
`disclose, teach or suggest at least an integral contacting portion disposed
`
`between the flange of the post and the lip of the coupler as recited in claim 1 or
`
`an integral contacting portion of the post disposed rean/vard of the flange as
`
`recited in claim 9.
`
`Similarly, Montena ‘O53 discloses a coaxial connector in which a port
`
`coupling element includes a plurality of openings or slots in between a plurality of
`
`engagement fingers. The plurality of engagement fingers engage with an outer
`
`edge ofa flange ofa post. Montena ‘O53 fails to disclose, teach or suggest at
`
`least an integral contacting portion disposed between the flange of the post and
`
`the lip of the coupler as recited in claim 1 or an integral contacting portion of the
`
`post disposed rean/vard of the flange as recited in claim 9.
`
`Thus, claims 1-4 and 9-11 are not anticipated by either Montena ‘338 or
`
`Montena ‘O53. Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests that the Office
`
`

`
`Serial No. 13/652,969
`Docket HI12-O19
`
`reconsider and withdraw the rejection of claims 1-4 and 9-11 and allow
`
`claims 1-4 and 9-11.
`
`Claims 19-23
`
`Claim 19, from which claims 20-23 depend, has been amended to recite,
`
`inter alia, “wherein at least one of the components has an integral, formable
`
`contacting portion protruding away from the at least one of the components
`
`toward another component;” “the assembling forms the contacting portion to a
`
`contour of the other component” and “wherein the contacting portion forms in at
`
`least a partially arcuate shape.”
`
`In contrast to claims 19-23, Montena ‘338 and Montena ‘O53, disclose
`
`flexible fingers of the post or the port coupling element engaging a surface of the
`
`port coupling element unit or the post, respectively. Neither Montena ‘338 nor
`
`Montena ‘O53 disclose, teach or suggest forming the contacting portion to a
`
`contour of the other component into an at least partially arcuate shape.
`
`Although the Office action argues with respect to claims 7, 13 and 28 that
`
`it would have been obvious to modify the contacting portions into an at least
`
`partially arcuate shape because Montena ‘338 and Montena ‘O53 disclose that
`
`openings in the post or port coupling element that surround flexible fingers of the
`
`post or port coupling element can be replaced by webbing, spacers, meshing,
`
`flexible material, netting and the like. Applicant respectfully disagrees. Merely
`
`replacing the openings or slots with another material does not teach or suggest
`
`changing the shape of the contacting portion (flexible fingers) into an at least
`
`partially arcuate shape as recited in amended claim 19.
`
`Thus, claims 19-23 are not anticipated by or obvious over Montena ‘338
`
`and/or Montena ‘O53, alone or in combination. Accordingly, Applicant
`
`respectfully requests that the Office reconsider and withdraw the rejection of
`
`claims 19-23 and allow claims 19-23.
`
`-10-
`
`

`
`Serial No. 13/652,969
`Docket HI12-019
`
`Claims 24-26 and 29
`
`Claim 24, from which claims 25, 26 and 29 depend, has been amended to
`
`recite, inter alia, “wherein at least one of the coupler and the body comprises an
`
`integral contacting portion extending between the coupler and the body.”
`
`As discussed above, each of Montena ‘338 and Montena ‘O53 disclose a
`
`plurality of engagement fingers or either the post or coupler contacting a surface
`
`of the coupler or post, respectively. Neither of Montena ‘338 or Montena ‘053
`
`disclose, teach or suggest at least an integral contacting portion extending
`
`between the coupler and the body.
`
`Thus, claims 24-26 and 29 are not anticipated by either Montena ‘338 or
`
`Montena ‘053. Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests that the Office
`
`reconsider and withdraw the rejection of claims 24-26 and 29 and allow
`
`claims 24-26 and 29.
`
`Rejections Under 35 U.S.C. § 103
`
`Claims 5-7, 12-17, 27 and 28 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as
`
`being purportedly unpatentable over Montena ‘338 and/or Montena ‘053.
`
`In
`
`order to establish a prima facie case of obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103, “[a]ll
`
`the words in a claim must be considered” and all limitations must be taught or
`
`suggested by the prior art. MPEP § 2143.03, In re Royka, 490 F.2d 981, 180
`
`USPQ 580 (CCPA 1974). Additionally, “there must be some articulated
`
`reasoning with some rational underpinning to support the legal conclusion of
`
`
`obviousness” to establish obviousness. KSR lnt’l v. Teleflex lnc., 550 U.S. 398,
`
`418, 82 USPQ.2d 1385, 1396 (2007).
`
`It is respectfully submitted that
`
`Montena ‘338 and Montena ‘053, individually or in combination, fail to support a
`
`prima facie case of obviousness with respect to claims 5-7, 12-17, 27 and 28.
`
`Thus, Applicant respectfully traverses this rejection for at least the following
`
`reasons.
`
`Claims 5-7, 12-17, 27 and 28 depend from claims 1, 9 and 24. As
`
`discussed above, each of Montena ‘338 and Montena ‘053 fail to teach or
`
`-11-
`
`

`
`Serial No. 13/652,969
`Docket HI12-019
`
`suggest all features of amended independent claims 1, 9 and 24. Thus, all the
`
`limitations of claims 1, 9 and 24 are not taught or suggested by Montena ‘338
`
`and Montena ‘O53, individually or in combination,. As such, the Office action has
`
`failed to establish a prima facie case of obviousness of claims 5-7, 12-17, 27 and
`
`28, which depend from independent claims 1, 9 and 24, based on Montena ‘338
`
`and Montena ‘053. Thus, it is not necessary to address the additional features in
`
`claims 5-7, 12-17, 27 and 28 to overcome this rejection. However, Applicant
`
`reserves the right to do so in the future. Accordingly, Applicant respectfully
`
`requests that the rejection of claims 5-7, 12-17, 27 and 28 be reconsidered and
`
`withdrawn and that claims 5-7, 12-17, 27 and 28 be allowed.
`
`CONCLUSION
`
`Applicants respectfully submit that the present application is in condition
`
`for allowance. The Examiner is encouraged to contact the undersigned to
`
`resolve efficiently any formal matters or to discuss any aspects of the application
`
`or of this response. Otherwise, early notification of allowable subject matter is
`
`respectfully solicited.
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`DINSMORE & SHOHL L.L.P.
`
`/Thomas J. Osborne, Jr./
`
`By
`
`Thomas J. Osborne, Jr.
`Registration No. 39,796
`
`Fifth Third Center
`
`One South Main Street, Suite 1300
`Dayton, Ohio 45402-2023
`Telephone: (937) 449-6400
`Facsimile: (937) 449-6405
`
`9587150V1
`
`-12-

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