Appeal No. 2004-0019 Page 7
Application No. 09/884,914
face of the outer housing of Yamaguchi in the completed connector (see Figure 4 of
Yamaguchi). In addition, we note that a water collecting recess that Wakata teaches to
avoid would be formed when the rubber plug is pulled into the insertion path by a
distance from the rear end face of the outer housing which is greater than the "first
distance" so that the rear end face of the rubber plug is recessed with the rear end face
of the outer housing of Yamaguchi in the completed connector. However, the teachings
of Wakata do not teach or suggest providing Yamaguchi with a rubber plug which will
be pulled into the insertion path by a distance from the rear end face of the outer
housing which is smaller than the "first distance" so that the rear end face of the rubber
plug would protrude with the rear end face of the outer housing of Yamaguchi in the
completed connector.
For the reasons set forth above, the decision of the examiner to reject claim 1
under 35 U.S.C. § 103 is reversed.
We have also reviewed the patent to Saijo additionally applied in the rejection of
claims 2 and 3 but find nothing therein which makes up for the deficiencies of
Yamaguchi and Wakata discussed above regarding claim 1. Accordingly, the decision
of the examiner to reject claims 2 and 3 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 is reversed.
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