Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/636,714

MOUNTING BRACKETS AND SYSTEMS

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Apr 16, 2024
Examiner
HAMMOND, CRYSTAL L
Art Unit
2838
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
DISH NETWORK L.L.C.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 2m
To Grant
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allow Rate
809 granted / 921 resolved
+19.8% vs TC avg
Minimal +4% lift
Without
With
+4.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 2m
Avg Prosecution
13 currently pending
Career history
934
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.9%
-39.1% vs TC avg
§103
37.6%
-2.4% vs TC avg
§102
54.5%
+14.5% vs TC avg
§112
2.1%
-37.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 921 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Pass et al. (US 9,385,413) in view of Vanover (US 8,534,622). (1) regarding Claims 1 and 15: Figures 7A and B of Pass discloses: PNG media_image1.png 600 403 media_image1.png Greyscale a cellular communication assembly (Col 2 lines 40-43) comprising: a support mast (64) having a first diameter; a mast bracket (68) coupled to the support mast, the mast bracket comprising: a central body (68) including a w-shaped geometry and defining a central a groove; a device bracket (46-s) coupled to the mast bracket. However Pass does not disclose the first and second support tabs. Figures 2 and 3 of Vanover, in the same field of endeavor, discloses: PNG media_image2.png 563 439 media_image2.png Greyscale a first support tab (74) extending from the central body (24) opposite the groove (shown in a first direction as shown in Fig 2), the first support tab defining a first elongated slot (hole shown); and a second support tab (a second 74 parallel to the first 74) extending from the central body opposite the groove, the second support tab substantially parallel to the first support tab and defining a second elongated slot (a second hole aligned with the first hole where a spacer 76 is located). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to incorporate the mast mount system for mounting accessories on a mobile elevated pole or mast comprising a pole mount assembly of Vanover into the device of Pass in order to provide a more secure accessory. (2) regarding Claim 2: The combination of Pass and Vanover further discloses: further comprising a transceiver radio unit coupled to a mating surface of the device bracket (Col 1 lines 19-30 of Pass). (3) regarding Claim 3: The combination of Pass and Vanover further discloses: wherein the mast bracket further comprises: a first weld joint between the central body and the first support tab (See Fig 2 of Vanover); and a second weld joint between the central body and the second support tab (See Fig 2 of Vanover). (4) regarding Claim 4: The combination of Pass and Vanover further discloses: wherein the central body of the mast bracket defines a first opening through a first end of the mast bracket and a second opening through a second end of the mast bracket opposite the first end (See Fig 2 of Vanover). (5) regarding Claim 5: The combination of Pass and Vanover further discloses: further comprising a spacer disposed between the first support tab and the second support tab with a fastener extending through the spacer (See Fig 2 of Vanover). (6) regarding Claim 6: The combination of Pass and Vanover further discloses: wherein the device bracket is formed by stamping a sheet of metal and bending a third support tab of the device bracket orthogonal to an elongated body of the device bracket (See Figs 2 and 3 of Vanover). (7) regarding Claim 7: The combination of Pass and Vanover further discloses: wherein the device bracket defines a third slot and a fourth slot having a minimum mounting pitch and a maximum mounting pitch (See Figs 2 and 3 of Vanover). (8) regarding Claim 8: The combination of Pass and Vanover further discloses: wherein the device bracket defines a third slot in a third support tab, wherein a fastener translates within the first elongated slot, the second elongated slot, and the third slot to adjust a position of the device bracket (See Figs 2 and 3 of Vanover). (9) regarding Claim 9: Figures 7A and 7B disclose: A mounting assembly (62) comprising: a mast bracket (68) having a w-shaped geometry and comprising: a central body (68) including a w-shaped geometry and defining a central a groove; However Pass does not disclose the first and second support tabs. Figures 2 and 3 of Vanover, in the same field of endeavor, discloses: a first support tab (74) extending from the central body (24) opposite the groove, the first support tab defining a first elongated slot; and a second support tab (a second 74 parallel to the first 74) extending from the central body opposite the groove, the second support tab substantially parallel to the first support tab and defining a second elongated slot (a second hole aligned with the first hole where a spacer 76 is located); a spacer (76) disposed between the first support tab (74) and the second support tab (74); and a fastener (78) extending through the spacer. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to incorporate the mast mount system for mounting accessories on a mobile elevated pole or mast comprising a pole mount assembly of Vanover into the device of Pass in order to provide a more secure accessory. (10) regarding Claim 10: The combination of Pass and Vanover further discloses: further comprising a device bracket (46-S in Fig 7A of Pass) coupled to the mast bracket. (11) regarding Claim 11: The combination of Pass and Vanover further discloses: wherein the device bracket comprises: an elongated body defining a third slot through a first end of a mating surface of the elongated body, the elongated body defining a fourth slot through a second end of the mating surface opposite the first end; and a third support tab extending from the elongated body opposite the mating surface (See Figs 2 and 3 of Vanover). (12) regarding Claim 12: The combination of Pass and Vanover further discloses: wherein the mast bracket further comprises: a first weld joint between the central body and the first support tab (See Fig 2 of Vanover); and a second weld joint between the central body and the first support tab (See Fig 2 of Vanover). (13) regarding Claim 13: The combination of Pass and Vanover further discloses: wherein the fastener translates along the first elongated slot and the second elongated slot to adjust a position of the fastener relative to the central body (See Figs 2 and 3 of Vanover). (14) regarding Claim 14: The combination of Pass and Vanover further discloses: wherein the first support tab is pressed between a head of the fastener and the spacer (See Figs 2 and 3 of Vanover). (16) regarding Claim 16: The combination of Pass and Vanover further discloses: further comprising a spacer disposed between the first support tab and the second support tab, the spacer defining a passage (See Figs 2 and 3 of Vanover). (17) regarding Claim 17: The combination of Pass and Vanover further discloses: further comprising a fastener extending through the first elongated slot, the passage, and the elongated second slot (See Figs 2 and 3 of Vanover). (18) regarding Claim 18: The combination of Pass and Vanover further discloses: wherein the fastener translates along the first elongated slot and the second elongated slot to adjust a position of the fastener and the spacer relative to the central body (See Figs 2 and 3 of Vanover). (19) regarding Claim 19: The combination of Pass and Vanover further discloses: wherein the first support tab is pressed between a head of the fastener and the spacer (See Figs 2 and 3 of Vanover). (20) regarding Claim 20: The combination of Pass and Vanover further discloses: wherein the second support tab is pressed between a nut of the fastener and the spacer (See Figs 2 and 3 of Vanover). Remarks The Office has cited particular columns, line numbers, paragraph numbers, references, or figures in the references applied to the claims below for the convenience of the applicant. Although the specified citations are representative of the teachings of the art and are applied to specific limitations within the individual claim, other passages and figures may apply as well. It is respectfully requested from the applicant in preparing responses to fully consider the reference in entirety, as potentially teaching all or part of the claimed invention. See MPEP § 2141.02 and § 2123. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CRYSTAL L HAMMOND whose telephone number is (571)270-1682. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 12pm-4pm Alt Fridays. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Dimary Lopez can be reached at (571)270-7893. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /CRYSTAL L HAMMOND/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2845
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 16, 2024
Application Filed
Nov 26, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12603432
ANTENNA AND WEARABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING SAME ANTENNA
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12592490
ANTENNA AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 31, 2026
Patent 12587187
CIRCUIT AND DEVICE INCLUDING A TRANSISTOR AND DIODE
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12580156
SOLID-STATE MATCH (SSM)-GENERATOR SYNCHRONIZATION
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Patent 12580315
ANTENNA APPARATUS AND VEHICLE INCLUDING THE SAME
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
88%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+4.1%)
2y 2m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 921 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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