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 .
DETAILED ACTION
This is the Final Office Action for application number 18/761,106 BOW HOLDER RETENTION APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS filed on 7/1/2024. Claims 1-3 and 5-20 are pending. Claims 3, 7, 8 and 12-20 are withdrawn. This Final Office Action is in response to applicant’s reply dated 3/6/2026. The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Applicant's amendment necessitated any new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claim 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by United States Patent No. 9,377,270 to Stokes.
With regards to claim 11, Stokes teaches a bow (100); a bow holder (61) configured to support the bow, the bow holder being separate and independent from the bow; and a bow holder retention apparatus removably attachable to the bow, the bow holder retention apparatus comprising: a body portion (20) comprising a first retention end (51) and a second retention end (52) positioned in proximity to each other, the body portion having an inner surface that is at least partially curved (See Figure 7) and [AltContent: arrow]defines a retention opening;
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at least one securing element (50F) configured to releasably secure the first retention end relative to the second retention end; and at least one attachment element (21F) configured to removably attach the body portion to the bow; wherein the retention opening is configured to removably retain the bow holder when the at least one securing element is releasably securing the first retention end relative to the second retention end.
Response to Arguments
With regards to claim 11, the applicant has argued that the bow holder (61) is not “separate” and “independent” from the bow (See Remarks, dated 3/6/2026, page 10). This argument is not persuasive. It is clear from Figure 4 that the bow holder may be detached from the bow at (100A) and therefore is considered “separate” and “independent”.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 2, 5, 6, 9 and 10 are allowed.
With regards to claim 1, the prior art does not teach a bow holder retention apparatus, comprising: a body portion comprising a first retention end and a second retention end positioned in proximity to each other, the body portion having an inner surface that is at least partially curved and defines a retention opening, and the body portion having at least one attachment aperture extending within the retention opening; at least one securing element configured to releasably secure the first retention end relative to the second retention end; and at least one attachment element configured to attach the body portion to a bow, wherein the at least one attachment element is receivable within the at least one attachment aperture; the retention opening is configured to removably retain a bow holder when the at least one securing element is releasably securing the first retention end relative to the second retention end.
Conclusion
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 extension fee 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 date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication should be directed to Amy J. Sterling at telephone number 571-272-6823 or to Supervisor Jonathan Liu at 571-272-8227, if the examiner cannot be reached. The fax machine number for the Technology center is 571-273-8300 (formal amendments) or 571-273-6823 (informal communications only). Any inquiry of a general nature or relating to the status of this application should be directed to the Technology Center receptionist at 571-272-3600.
/AMY J. STERLING/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3631 4/1/26