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 .
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 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.
DETAILED ACTION
This is the first action for application #19/008180, Pedestal Mounts and Docks For Mobile Devices and Methods of Making and Using, filed 1/2/2025. Claims 1-20 are pending.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) were considered by the examiner. The couple of references crossed-out were due only to being duplicates.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference character “100” has leader lines throughout the figures pointing to different parts. Since “100” is defining the entire mount, the leader line should have an arrow pointing to the entire structure and not touching any element, or the numeral “100” could be underlined without a leader line.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they do not include the following reference sign(s) mentioned in the description: 103.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description: 144c.
The drawings are objected to because numeral “123” should not have a leader line ending in an arrowhead since it is defining a specific element. The leader line should end right at the element without an arrowhead.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference character "104" is not pointing to the mount arm in Figures 1H or 1I, but rather appears to be pointing to an axle post.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The specification is objected to because on page 9, ln 10, numeral “127” is used when referring to the lever post, but the lever post was already defined as numeral “125”.
The specification is objected to because on page 6, ln 15, the specification refers to Figure 3A when discussing the mobile device, but the mobile device is not depicted in Figure 3A.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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 10-20 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Regarding Claim 10:
-An axle is claimed to be coupled to the mounting arm and then further claimed “and configured for rotation about the axle”. This is unclear since the axle cannot rotate about itself.
Regarding Claims 11, 12, 13, and 20:
-The dock is further defined in these claims. However, the dock is not positively defined in Claim 10 and therefore cannot be further positively defined. The dock either has to be positively defined, or the claims canceled. If the dock is positively defined though, then Claim 10 would be identical to Claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-9 are allowed.
Claims 10-20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Mounts for mobile devices are known in the art. US 8,931,748 to Bowman et al teaches a mount with a dock (294), mounting arm (292), axle (296), and first and second tube arrangements (6138/6230), with one of the tubes (6138) having a cutout (6137) extending 50% of a circumference about the tube, to allow rotation (of 6230) that is limited by a fastener traveling within the slot. Bowman does not teach the fastener being a latch with a lever post, a fulcrum arm, and second end. Additionally, US 10,436,244 (Hung) also teaches a mount with a dock, mounting arm, an axle (Figure 1), first and second tube arrangements (3,2), with one tube (3) having a cutout (31) extending 50% of a circumference about the tube and a latch (5) coupled to the other tube (2, via 4), such that the lever has a lever post (52) that travels within the slot, has a fulcrum arm (51) and a second end part (53). Hung however does not teach that the second end portion of the lever biases the lever post outward into the first cutout. Hung teaches the lever post being biases inwardly. Therefore, the specifics of the lever and cutout, in combination with the other claimed elements and relationships are not taught by the prior art.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Prior art has been listed in the PTO-892 form.
US 8,931,748 (Bowman et al.) and US 10,436,244 (Hung) teach stands having one tube portion rotatable with respect to another tube portion due to a slot that extends 50% circumferentially about one of the tubes.
US 2005/0238422 (Hung) teaches a latch being biased outwardly through a cutout to couple two tubes together, but does not teach allowing rotation of the tubes due to a slot.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to INGRID M WEINHOLD whose telephone number is (571)272-8822. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Tuesday 7:00am-5:00pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Terrell McKinnon can be reached on 571-272-4797. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/INGRID M WEINHOLD/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3632