Appeal 2006-2599
Application 10/199,986
opposite sides can be inserted to any mounting opening (for example,
a panel with a mounting opening only not necessary to insert into the
connector housing as shown in Yuzawa), this would provide more
security and more easier to engage/disengage between the connector
and the mounting opening.
Notwithstanding the Examiner’s rather awkward wording of this
rationale, panel 32 and its opening 30 in figures 1 through 3 of Lucius
correspond to the Appellant’s specification figures 4 and 5 and their panel
120 with corresponding opening 119. Representative independent claim 1
on appeal does not actually require the insertion of a housing into a
mounting opening and does not require the housing to be snap-fitted within
this opening. Corresponding features as to the mere insertability are found
in independent claims 7 and 14 on appeal. Indeed, the mounting opening
and the telecommunications equipment of these claims are merely passively
recited anyway.
The Examiner’s quoted reasoning of combinability is consistent with
the teachings and showings in Lucius and such are broadly represented in
the Abstract indicating that the contribution of Lucius in the art permits
electrical connectors to be mounted within openings of a panel from either
side of this panel. This approach expands upon the limited application of the
coax plug connector 20 to the housing 70 within Yuzawa alone as reasoned
by the quoted portion from page 7 of the Answer.
Additionally, the Examiner’s remarks at pages 6 and 7 of the Answer
address Appellant’s principal position at page 10 of the Brief as to
independent claim 1 on appeal that even if properly combined within 35
U.S.C. § 103, the combination of Yuzawa and Lucius does not meet the
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Last modified: September 9, 2013