Appeal No. 2003-1205
Application No. 09/568,406
1. A fiber optic connector for mating with a
complementary connecting device along a mating optical axis,
comprising:
an outer housing having a forward mating end, a
rear end and a resilient latch portion for latching
engagement with the complementary connecting device, the
outer housing including wall means at said rear end
substantially surrounding said axis to define a cavity
opening rearwardly of the housing;
an inner housing fitted into the rearwardly
opening cavity in the outer housing whereby said wall means
constrains the inner housing in “X” and “Y” directions
generally perpendicular to said axis, the inner housing
including an optical element receiving cavity communicating
with the optical axis; and
complementary interengaging retaining means
between the inner and outer housings to hold the inner
housing in the rearwardly opening cavity of the outer
housing against movement in a “Z” direction generally
parallel to said axis.
PRIOR ART
The examiner relies on the following sole prior art
reference:
Komatsu 4,778,240 Oct. 18, 1988
THE REJECTION
Claims 1 through 4, 7 and 8 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
§ 102(b) as anticipated by the disclosure of Komatsu.
OPINION
We have carefully reviewed the claims, specification and
applied prior art, including all of the arguments advanced by
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