DETAILED ACTION
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Species 1, Figures 5-16, claims 1-4, 8-10 and 12-23, in the reply filed on August 19, 2025 is acknowledged.
Claim Objections
Claims 12 and 13 are objected to because of the following informalities:
In claim 12 (line 1) “of claim 7” should recite –of claim 1--.
In claim 13 (line 1) “of claim 7” should recite –of claim 2--.
For the purpose of examining the application, it is assumed that appropriate correction has been made.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-4, 8-10 and 12-23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 1 (lines 16-21) and claim 21 (lines 23-27) each recite “the loading assembly comprising a loading shaft and a push rod coupled to the loading shaft, wherein the loading shaft and push rod are disposed within the bore of the second body, the loading shaft being moveable along the axis to a first load position in response to the push pin interfacing the push rod to move the push rod axially relative to the loading shaft from a locked position in which the loading shaft is restrained relative to the second body to an unlocked position in which the loading shaft is permitted to move relative to the second body”.
Claims 1 and 21 each fail to recite any limitations which allow one to properly determine how the movement of the push rod actuates movement of the loading shaft “to a first load position… from a locked position in which the loading shaft is restrained relative to the second body to an unlocked position in which the loading shaft is permitted to move relative to the second body”. It is unclear as to how the push rod structurally engages the loading shaft such that the push rod is movable axially relative to the loading shaft; and unclear as to how such relative axial movement between the push rod and loading shaft actuates the movement of the loading shaft to the first load position from the locked position to the unlocked position.
Furthermore, it is unclear as to what structural features or elements provide for the loading shaft being “restrained relative to the second body” in the locked position; and unclear as to what structural features or elements provide for the loading shaft being “permitted to move relative to the second body” in the unlocked position. Accordingly, one is unable to properly determine the metes and bounds of such claims. Claims 2-4, 8-10 and 12-22 depend from claim 1 and are likewise rejected as being indefinite.
Examiner notes that claims 1 and 23 must include the limitations of claims 8 and 9 in order to overcome such 35 USC 112 rejections.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-23 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
As to claims 1 and 23 as best understood, Pace (US 5,692,851) discloses the claimed mounting system with the exception of the loading assembly comprising a loading shaft and a push rod coupled to the loading shaft, wherein the loading shaft and push rod are disposed within the bore of the second body, the loading shaft being moveable along the axis to a first load position in response to the push pin interfacing the push rod to move the push rod axially relative to the loading shaft from a locked position in which the loading shaft is restrained relative to the second body to an unlocked position in which the loading shaft is permitted to move relative to the second body.
There is no teaching or suggestion, absent the applicant’s own disclosure, for one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the mounting system disclosed by Pace to have the above mentioned elemental features. Furthermore, such modifications would not be obvious.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL P FERGUSON whose telephone number is (571)272-7081. The examiner can normally be reached M-F (10:00 am-7:00 pm EST).
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03/20/26
/MICHAEL P FERGUSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3619