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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114 was filed in this application after appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, but prior to a decision on the appeal. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114 and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the appeal has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114 and prosecution in this application has been reopened pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant’s submission filed on 27 April 2026 has been entered.
Claim Objections
Claim 19 is objected to because of the following informalities: The feature, “detent” lacks an antecedent basis. Appropriate correction is required. Further, the examiner notes that the limitation providing a wedging surface contacting the detent is interpreted to require a configuration of the mounting bar providing capability of being contacted by a wedging surface.
Claim 30 is objected to because of the following informalities: The feature, “first and second detents” lack an antecedent basis. Appropriate correction is required. Further, the examiner notes that limitations requiring detents contacting a fastener are interpreted to require the capability of the detents to be contacted by a fastener.
Claim 50 objected to because of the following informalities: The limitation providing that the third angled surface may contact a first support portion is interpreted to require that the third angled surface is configured to be capable of being contacted by a first support portion.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 28-36 and 46-48 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. In Claim 28, line 14, the limitation providing first, second, and third length portions constitutes new matter which was not disclosed in the originally filed specification and cannot be added.
Claim 51 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. In, line 1, the limitation providing first, second, and third length portions constitutes new matter which was not disclosed in the originally filed specification and cannot be added.
Claim 52 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. In line 17, the limitation providing first, second, and third length portions constitutes new matter which was not disclosed in the originally filed specification and cannot be added.
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The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 17-27 and 49-51 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. In Claim 17, line 20, the limitation providing that the fastener is engaged with the threaded cavity purports to modify a feature (fastener and threaded cavity) which is not positively claimed. The scope of the claim is indefinite. The examiner notes that limitations in line 16 and following are interpreted to require that the claimed mounting bar be configured so as to be capable of performing the claimed functions, including being capable of extending through a first aperture and contacting a first portion of a second rail and not contacting an enlarged portion.
Claims 28-36 and 46-48 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. In Claim 28, line 17, the limitation providing a first length contacting a first rail, a second length contacting a fastener and a third length contacting a second rail is unclear in that a person of ordinary skill in the art would not understand how the mounting bar may be configured with separate length portions arranged as claimed. The scope of the claim is indefinite. Further, the limitation providing that the screw threads of the fastener are engaged with the threaded cavity purports to modify a feature which is not positively claimed. The limitation providing a conical surface contacting the first angled surface is interpreted to require that the angled surface may be configured to be contacted by a conical surface.
Claims 46 and 47 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. In Claim 46, limitations providing a first support portion, a second support portion, and an enlarged portion on an archery riser purport to modify a feature which is not positively claimed (archery riser). The scope of the claim is indefinite. Further, the limitation describing the mounting bar contacting the claimed portions is interpreted to require capability of the mounting bar to receive contact from the portions.
Claim 48 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. The limitation providing that the screw threads and conical surface comprise a single piece of material purports to modify a feature which is not positively claimed. The scope of the claim is indefinite.
Claim 49 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. The limitation providing that the wedging surface comprises a conical surface purports to modify a feature which is not positively claimed. The scope of the claim is indefinite. The limitation providing the conical surface contacting the first angled surface is interpreted to require the first angled surface configured to be capable of receiving contact by a conical surface.
Claim 52 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. In line 23, the limitation providing that the screw threads of the fastener are engaged with the threaded cavity purports to modify a feature which is not positively claimed. The scope of the claim is indefinite. Further, the limitations providing a first support portion contacting a third angled surface, a second support portion contacting the second side portion, and an enlarged portion not contacting the mounting bar are interpreted to require that the mounting bar be configured to be capable of being contacted and not contacted as claimed.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 17-27, 49, and 50 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 27 April 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive; however, the examiner finds that amendments to independent Claims 17 and 28, as well as new Claim 52 provide a specific cross-sectional shape of the mounting bar avoiding the prior art.
In response to applicant’s argument relating to patentable weight accorded language in the preamble, the examiner maintains the position that the preamble language describing a type of riser for which the inventive mounting bar is intended, does not clarify features of the claimed mounting bar and does not breathe life into the claimed invention. Claim limitations directed to the coordination of the features of the riser with those of the mounting bar are interpreted to describe capabilities of the mounting bar based on features of the mounting bar.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOHN ELLIOTT SIMMS JR whose telephone number is (571)270-7474. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30 am - 5:00 pm - M-F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Nicholas Weiss can be reached at (571) 270-1775. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JOHN E SIMMS JR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3711 7 May 2026
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