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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I (claims 1-18) in the reply filed on April 20, 2026 is acknowledged.
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, 2, 7, 10, 12, 13, 15 and 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Verghese (US 7,038,709; hereinafter Verghese).
Regarding claim 1, Verghese (see figs 2 and 3A) discloses a device mount comprising: a base (80 and 90); an arm (82) coupled to the base (80 and 90); a connector (72) coupled to the arm (82) with a rotation joint (142); a first motor (22) disposed within the base (80 and 90) and configured to tilt the connector (72), facilitated by the rotation joint; and a second motor (18) disposed within the base (80 and 90) and configured to rotate the base (80)(see col 7, lines 50-54).
Regarding claim 2, Verghese discloses the device mount of claim 1, further comprising a band (95, 99) disposed within the arm (82) that is operatively coupled to the first motor (22) and the rotation joint (142) such that actuation of the first motor tilts the connector (72).
Regarding claim 7, Verghese discloses the device mount of claim 1, comprising one or more lights (71 and 71a-71b) configured to convey status information (see fig. 2).
Regarding claim 10, Verghese discloses the device mount of claim 1, wherein the first motor (22) and the second motor (18) are configured to be actuated by a tracking software running on a device mounted to the connector (see Fig. 1 and col 6 lines 37-67).
Regarding claim 12, Verghese (see figs 2 and 3A) discloses a device mount comprising: a base (80 and 90) comprising a first portion (90) and a second portion (80); an arm (82) coupled to the base (80 and 90); a connector (72) coupled to the arm (82) with a rotation joint (142); a first motor (22) disposed within the base (80 and 90) and configured to tilt the connector (72), facilitated by the rotation joint; and a second motor (18) disposed within the base (80 and 90)and configured to rotate the second portion (80) of the base (see col 7, lines 50-54).
Regarding claim 13, Verghese discloses the device mount of claim 12, further comprising a band (95, 99) disposed within the arm (82) that is operatively coupled to the first motor (22) and the rotation joint (142) such that actuation of the first motor tilts the connector (72).
Regarding claim 15, Verghese discloses the device mount of claim 12, comprising one or more lights (71 and 71a-71b) configured to convey status information (see fig. 2).
Regarding claim 18, Verghese discloses the device mount of claim 12, wherein the first motor (22) and the second motor (18) are configured to be actuated by a tracking software running on a device mounted to the connector (see Fig. 1 and col 6 lines 37-67).
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.
Claim(s) 3 and 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Verghese and Biggadike (US 2011/0100679).
Regarding claim 3, the modified Verghese discloses the device mount of claim 2.
The modified Verghese fails to specifically disclose the band is made of self-lubricating nylon.
Biggadike teaches a band made of self-lubricating nylon (see par. [0033]).
It would have been obvious to one having skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to make the modified Verghese’s device mount with the band being made of self-lubricating nylon as taught by Biggadike, in order to use a material that has low density and coefficient of friction therefore facilitating movement (see par. [0033]).
Regarding claim 14, the modified Verghese discloses the device mount of claim 13.
The modified Verghese fails to specifically disclose the band is made of self-lubricating nylon.
Biggadike teaches a band made of self-lubricating nylon (see par. [0033]).
It would have been obvious to one having skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to make the modified Verghese’s device mount with the band being made of self-lubricating nylon as taught by Biggadike, in order to use a material that has low density and coefficient of friction therefore facilitating movement (see par. [0033]).
Claim(s) 4 and 5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Verghese and Ryan et al. (US 2014/0226963; hereinafter Ryan).
Regarding claim 4, Verghese discloses the device mount of claim 1.
Verghese fails to specifically disclose a stabilizing member.
Ryan teaches a device mount comprising a stabilizing member (209)(see fig. 14).
It would have been obvious to one having skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to make Verghese’s device mount with a stabilizing member as taught by Ryan, in order to attach a tripod (see par. [0094]).
Regarding claim 5, the modified Verghese (see Ryan fig. 14) discloses the device mount of claim 4, wherein the stabilizing member is a threaded hole (209) configured to receive a threaded fastener on a tripod (see par. [0094]).
Claim(s) 6 and 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Verghese and Tulsi et al. (US 2023/0199316; hereinafter Tulsi).
Regarding claim 6, Verghese discloses the device mount of claim 1.
Verghese fails to specifically disclose the base comprises an operator configured to turn power to the device mount on and off.
Verghese fails to specifically disclose the base comprises the operator.
Tulsi teaches a device mount wherein a base comprises an operator (604, fig. 6) configured to turn power to the device mount on and off.
It would have been obvious to one having skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to make Verghese’s device mount with the base comprising the operator as taught by Tulsi, in order to control the power in the device mount (see pa. [0092]).
Regarding claim 11, Verghese discloses the device mount of claim 1, further comprising a port (118) configured to receive a power cord from an external power source (Fig. 3A).
Verghese fails to specifically disclose an internal battery.
Tulsi teaches a device mount comprising an internal battery (910)(Fig. 9).
It would have been obvious to one having skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to make Verghese’s device mount with an internal battery as taught by Tulsi, in order to power up the device mount without a power cord.
Claim(s) 8 and 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Verghese and Imasaka et al. (US 2013/0174660; hereinafter Imasaka).
Regarding claim 8, Verghese discloses the device mount of claim 1.
Verghese fails to specifically disclose the connector includes a sensor configured to detect when a device is mounted to the connector.
Imasaka teaches a connector (16) including a sensor (16a) configured to detect when a device (2) is mounted to the connector (16)(Fig. 1B).
It would have been obvious to one having skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to make Verghese’s device mount with the connector including a sensor configured to detect when a device is mounted to the connector as taught by Imasaka, in order to detect when the device is being mounted (see par. [0040]).
Regarding claim 16, Verghese discloses the device mount of claim 12.
Verghese fails to specifically disclose the connector includes a sensor configured to detect when a device is mounted to the connector.
Imasaka teaches a connector (16) including a sensor (16a) configured to detect when a device (2) is mounted to the connector (16)(Fig. 1B).
It would have been obvious to one having skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to make Verghese’s device mount with the connector including a sensor configured to detect when a device is mounted to the connector as taught by Imasaka, in order to detect when the device is being mounted (see par. [0040]).
Claim(s) 9 and 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Verghese and Gandhi (US 12,316,972; hereinafter Gandhi).
Regarding claim 9, Verghese discloses the device mount of claim 1.
Verghese fails to specifically disclose the connector is configured to wirelessly charge a device.
Gandhi teaches a device mount comprising a connector (stand 10 in fig. 2) configured to wirelessly charge a device (see col. 16, lines 5-6).
It would have been obvious to one having skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to make Verghese’s device mount with the connector configured to wirelessly charge a device as taught by Gandhi, in order to perform inductive charging without the need for a cable (see col. 16, lines 5-6).
Regarding claim 17, Verghese discloses the device mount of claim 12.
Verghese fails to specifically disclose the connector is configured to wirelessly charge a device.
Gandhi teaches a device mount comprising a connector (stand 10 in fig. 2) configured to wirelessly charge a device (see col. 16, lines 5-6).
It would have been obvious to one having skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to make Verghese’s device mount with the connector configured to wirelessly charge a device as taught by Gandhi, in order to perform inductive charging without the need for a cable (see col. 16, lines 5-6).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DIMARY S LOPEZ CRUZ whose telephone number is (571)270-7893. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Andrea Wellington can be reached at 571-272-4483. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DIMARY S LOPEZ CRUZ/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2845
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