Office Action Predictor
Last updated: April 16, 2026
Application No. 18/662,187

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MOUNTING COMPONENTS TO AN INFORMATION HANDLING RESOURCE MODULE

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
May 13, 2024
Examiner
THAKER, NIDHI VIVEK
Art Unit
2841
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Dell Products L.P.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
69%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 4m
To Grant
83%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 69% — above average
69%
Career Allow Rate
497 granted / 723 resolved
+0.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +15% lift
Without
With
+14.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
15 currently pending
Career history
738
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
51.3%
+11.3% vs TC avg
§102
37.7%
-2.3% vs TC avg
§112
5.0%
-35.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 723 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
9Notice 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 § 102 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1-3, 5-9, 11-15 and 17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Rau et al. (US 20120020004 A1). Re claim 1: Rau discloses an information handling system (computer system 10 in fig 1) comprising: a plurality of connectors (DIMM sockets 32a-32h in fig 2), wherein each connector is configured to (i.e., functional language) mechanically and electrically couple to a respective information handling resource (DIMMs 16a-16h in fig 2); and a mount structure (frame 30 in fig 2 and paragraphs 30-31) configured to (i.e., functional language) mechanically couple to a first connector (32a) and a second connector (32h) of the plurality of connectors. Re claim 2: Rau discloses the information handling system, wherein the mount structure (30) is further configured to (i.e., functional language) couple to one or more removable mechanical accessories (cold plate 42 in figs 3-5 and paragraphs 32-.33). Re claim 3: Rau discloses the information handling system, wherein the mount structure (30) comprises: a first support structure (see annotated fig 2) comprising a first attachment mechanism (mounting holes 38 in fig 2 and paragraph 30; herein, the frame 30 includes mounting holes 38, which align with mounting holes 40 of board 34) configured to (i.e., functional language) mechanically couple (i.e., indirectly couple via motherboard 34) to the first connector (32a in fig 2); and a second support structure (see annotated fig 2) comprising a second attachment mechanism (mounting holes 38 in fig 2 and paragraph 30; herein, the frame 30 includes mounting holes 38, which align with mounting holes 40 of board 34) configured to (i.e., functional language) mechanically couple (i.e., indirectly couple via motherboard 34) to the second connector (32h in fig 2); and a top support structure (frame blades 36a-36h in fig 2 and paragraph 30) connecting the first support structure and the second support structure, wherein the top support structure comprises a plurality of alignment features (i.e., sloped edges of blades 36a-36h in fig 5) configured to (i.e., functional language) mechanically couple one or more removable mechanical accessories (cold plate 42 in figs 3-5). PNG media_image1.png 642 1271 media_image1.png Greyscale Re claim 5: Rau discloses the information handling system, wherein the mount structure is further configured to (i.e., functional language) couple to one or more removable mechanical accessories (cold plate 42 in figs 3-5) such that the one or more removable mechanical accessories are arranged in alternating order with the information handling resources (see fig 5 and paragraph 33; herein, cold plate 42 includes cold plate blades 46a-46i, which are in alternating order with DIMMs 16a-16h). Re claim 6: Rau discloses the information handling system, wherein the one or more removable mechanical accessories (cold plate 42 in figs 3-5) comprises a thermal insert (see cold plate blades 46a-46i in figs 3-5). Re claim 7: Rau discloses the information handling system, wherein the mount structure (30) is further configured to (i.e., functional language) couple to one or more removable mechanical accessories (cold plate 42 in figs 3-5) such that the one or more removable mechanical accessories (see cold plate blades 46a-46i of cold plate 42 in figs 3-5) are positioned outside of the plurality of connectors (see fig 5). Re claim 8: Rau discloses the information handling system, wherein the one or more removable mechanical accessories (42) comprises a guard insert (46a and 46i in fig 5) configured to (i.e., functional language) protect the information handling resources. Re claim 9: Rau discloses a mount structure (frame 30 in fig 2 and paragraphs 30-31) configured to (i.e., functional language) mechanically couple to a first connector (32a in fig 2) and a second connector (32h in fig 2) of a plurality of connectors (DIMM sockets 32a-32h in fig 2), wherein each connector is configured to (i.e., functional language) mechanically and electrically couple to a respective information handling resource (DIMMs 16a-16h in fig 2), and wherein the mount structure (30) comprises: a first support structure (see annotated fig 2) comprising a first attachment mechanism (mounting holes 38 in fig 2 and paragraph 30; herein, the frame 30 includes mounting holes 38, which align with mounting holes 40 of board 34) configured to (i.e., functional language) mechanically couple (i.e., indirectly couple via motherboard 34) to the first connector (32a in fig 2); and a second support structure (see annotated fig 2) comprising a second attachment mechanism (mounting holes 38 in fig 2 and paragraph 30; herein, the frame 30 includes mounting holes 38, which align with mounting holes 40 of board 34) configured to (i.e., functional language) mechanically couple (i.e., indirectly couple via motherboard 34) to the second connector (32h in fig 2); and a top support structure (frame blades 36a-36h in fig 2 and paragraph 30) connecting the first support structure and the second support structure, wherein the top support structure comprises a plurality of alignment features (i.e., sloped edges of blades 36a-36h in fig 5) configured to (i.e., functional language) mechanically couple one or more removable mechanical accessories (cold plate 42 in figs 3-5). Re claim 11: Rau discloses the mount structure, wherein the mount structure is further configured to (i.e., functional language) couple to one or more removable mechanical accessories (cold plate 42 in figs 3-5) such that the one or more removable mechanical accessories are arranged in alternating order with the information handling resources (see fig 5 and paragraph 33; herein, cold plate 42 includes cold plate blades 46a-46i, which are in alternating order with DIMMs 16a-16h). Re claim 12: Rau discloses the mount structure, wherein the one or more removable mechanical accessories (cold plate 42 in figs 3-5) comprises a thermal insert (see cold plate blades 46a-46i in figs 3-5). Re claim 13: Rau discloses the mount structure, wherein the mount structure (30) is further configured to (i.e., functional language) couple to the one or more removable mechanical accessories (cold plate 42 in figs 3-5) such that the one or more removable mechanical accessories (see cold plate blades 46a-46i of cold plate 42 in figs 3-5) are positioned outside of the plurality of connectors (see fig 5). Re claim 14: Rau discloses the mount structure, wherein the one or more removable mechanical accessories (42) comprises a guard insert (46a and 46i in fig 5) configured to (i.e., functional language) protect the information handling resources. Re method claims 15, 17-20: The method steps recited in the claims are obviously necessitated by the device structure as taught by Rau. Allowable Subject Matter Claim 4 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The best prior art of record, taken alone or in combination thereof, fails to teach an information handling system including, along with other limitations, the plurality of alignment features are further configured to prevent the one or more removable mechanical accessories from coming into contact with the information handling resources as set forth in the claim. Claim 10 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The best prior art of record, taken alone or in combination thereof, fails to teach a mount structure including, along with other limitations, the plurality of alignment features are further configured to prevent the one or more removable mechanical accessories from coming into contact with the information handling resources as set forth in the claim. Claim 16 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The best prior art of record, taken alone or in combination thereof, fails to teach a mount structure including, along with other limitations, the plurality of alignment features are further configured to prevent the one or more removable mechanical accessories from coming into contact with the information handling resources as set forth in the claim. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Nidhi Thaker whose telephone number is (571)270-3408. The examiner can normally be reached M, TH, F 10am-6pm. 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, Imani Hayman can be reached at 571-270-5528. 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. /NIDHI THAKER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2841
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Prosecution Timeline

May 13, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 07, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Mar 06, 2026
Interview Requested
Mar 18, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Mar 18, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Mar 25, 2026
Response Filed

Precedent Cases

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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
69%
Grant Probability
83%
With Interview (+14.6%)
2y 4m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 723 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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