Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/905,385

MOUNT AND CABLE MANAGEMENT FOR HEAD-MOUNTABLE DEVICE

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Oct 03, 2024
Examiner
HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
Art Unit
2841
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Apple Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 4m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allow Rate
816 granted / 1018 resolved
+12.2% vs TC avg
Strong +22% interview lift
Without
With
+22.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
35 currently pending
Career history
1053
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
48.0%
+8.0% vs TC avg
§102
41.9%
+1.9% vs TC avg
§112
8.2%
-31.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1018 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Davidson (2023/0152594). Regarding Claim 1: Davidson teaches a head-mountable assembly, comprising: a display unit (1200); a retention band (1340); a mount (1505) attachable to the retention band (figs. 68a-72b), the mount being movable relative to the retention band (slidable with 1504/1503 in figs. 68a-72b or pivotable with 1516 in fig. 68c); and an accessory (1502) attachable to the mount (figs. 53a-53g), the accessory being movable with the mount (1502 is attached in 1505 so therefore moves with it). Regarding Claim 2: Davidson teaches the accessory comprises a battery (paragraph [1529]). Regarding Claim 3: Davidson teaches the accessory is magnetically attached to the mount (paragraph [1369]). Regarding Claim 4: Davidson teaches the mount is extendable to increase a distance between the display unit and the accessory (through the springs in figs. 68c, 68d). Regarding Claim 5: Davidson teaches the mount comprises an output component (1510). Regarding Claim 6: Davidson teaches the mount is integrally formed with the retention band (figs. 68a-72b). Regarding Claim 7: Davidson teaches the mount is integrally formed with the accessory (figs. 68a-72b). Regarding Claim 8: Davidson teaches a head-mountable device, comprising: a display (1200); a support (1300) attached to the display and configured to retain the display on a user's head (figs. 62a); and an attachment feature (1505) configured to removably couple a battery (1502) to the support (figs. 68a-72b), the attachment feature positioned opposite the display (figs. 68a-72b). Regarding Claim 9: Davidson teaches the battery comprises a supplemental battery (figs. 53a-53g). Regarding Claim 10: Davidson teaches the attachment feature is removable from the support (figs. 68a-72b). Regarding Claim 11: Davidson teaches the attachment feature is movable to adjust a position of the battery (figs. 68a-72b). Regarding Claim 12: Davidson teaches the attachment feature comprises a cable management feature to retain a cable of the battery (figs. 53a-53g). Regarding Claim 13: Davidson teaches the attachment feature comprises: a first electrical connector (figs. 53a-53g) configured to establish an electrical connection with the battery (figs. 53a-53g); and a second electrical connector (figs. 53a-53g) configured to establish an electrical connection with the display (figs. 53a-53g). Regarding Claim 14: Davidson teaches the attachment feature defines an internal volume configured to house an electrical component (figs. 53a-53g). Regarding Claim 15: Davidson teaches the attachment feature comprises an over-the-head support (figs. 68a-72b). Regarding Claim 16: Davidson teaches a mount for an auxiliary battery of a head-mountable device, the mount comprising: a cable management system (figs. 53a-53g); a first attachment interface (figs. 68a-72b) configured to attach the mount to a retention band of the head-mountable device (figs. 68a-72b); and a second attachment interface (figs. 53a-53g) configured to attach the auxiliary battery to the mount (figs. 53a-53g). Regarding Claim 17: Davidson teaches the cable management system comprises a retraction device configured to automatically retract the cable (paragraph [0073]). Regarding Claim 18: Davidson teaches the second attachment interface is rotatable and translatable relative to the first attachment interface (through pivot 1516). Regarding Claim 19: Davidson teaches at least one of the first attachment interface or the second attachment interface comprises a magnetic attachment (paragraph [1369). Regarding Claim 20: Davidson teaches the second attachment interface is configured to attach to the auxiliary battery in response to the auxiliary battery being positioned against the mount (figs. 53a-53g). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. All other art cited in the notice of references PTO-892 but not relied upon in the above rejection all relate as teaching head mounted devices including head retention straps with an accessory device attached thereto. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANTHONY MICHAEL HAUGHTON whose telephone number is (571)272-9087. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9a-5p. 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. /ANTHONY M HAUGHTON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2841
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Prosecution Timeline

Oct 03, 2024
Application Filed
Mar 28, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

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
80%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+22.4%)
2y 4m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1018 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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