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 .
This is the first office action for application number 19/019,127, RADIAL SPRING ROTATIONAL MOUNT, filed on January 13, 2025.
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.
Claim(s) 1-4, 8, 9, 11-14, and 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent No. 3,024,018 to Manz. Manz discloses a mount comprising: a mount base (1) comprising a mount interface (7), an inner portion (9), and an outer portion (12); and an accessory socket (22) comprising a socket frame and a socket arm (19 and/or 20), the socket arm configured to releasably secure an accessory in association with the accessory socket, wherein the mount interface releasably couples the mount base to a mounting surface (4); the inner portion is secured to the mount base and coupled to the outer portion; the outer portion is configured to rotate around the inner portion; the inner portion comprises one or more position locks; the inner portion switches from a locked state to an unlocked state based at least on an applied force (via elements 13 and nut, Fig. 1) satisfying a force threshold; and the outer portion comprises one or more raised portions, wherein the one or more position locks couple with a first set of the one or more raised portions in response to the inner portion being associated with the locked state and a second set of the one or more raised portions translate along at least the inner portion in response to the inner portion being associated with the unlocked state; wherein the mount interface is configured to couple with a mounting surface interface associated with the mounting surface; wherein the socket frame comprises a first frame portion and a second frame portion; the first frame portion extends from a first side of the mount base; the second frame portion extends from a second side of the mount base, the second side opposite the first side; the first frame portion and the second frame portion at least partially define the accessory socket to receive the accessory; wherein the socket arm is disposed between the first frame portion and the second frame portion; the outer portion configured to translate between a plurality of rotational positions, wherein the outer portion translates from a first rotational position of the plurality of rotational positions to a second rotational position based at least on the outer portion receiving the applied force; the inner portion further comprising one or more contact ridges (14), and wherein the second set of the one or more raised portions translate along the one or more contact ridges of the inner portion.
In regards to claims 11-14, Manz discloses a mount comprising: a first frame portion defining at least a first portion of an accessory socket (22); a second frame portion defining at least a second portion of the accessory socket; a mount arm (19, 20) configured to releasably couple with an accessory associated with the accessory socket, the mount arm disposed between the first frame portion and the second frame portion; and a mount base (1) configured to rotate the accessory socket around a central axis, the mount base comprising: an outer portion (12) associated with a plurality of rotational positions and coupled to the first frame portion, the second frame portion, and the mount arm; and an inner portion (9) associated with a locked state and an unlocked state, the locked state securing the outer portion in a first rotational position and the unlocked state enabling rotation of the outer portion from the first rotational position to a second rotational position; wherein the first frame portion extends from a first side of the outer portion and the second frame portion extends from a second side, the second side opposite the first side; wherein the first frame portion extends from the first side of the outer portion; the second frame portion extends from the second side of the outer portion; and the first frame portion and the second frame portion at least partially enclose the accessory socket; and wherein the central axis is a fastener (13) that couples the mount arm, a frame base that couples the first frame portion and the second frame portion to the outer portion, and the outer portion to the inner portion of the mount base, the fastener enabling the mount arm, the frame base, and the outer portion to rotate around the inner portion.
In regards to claim 18, Manz discloses a mount base (1) comprising: an outer portion (12) associated with a plurality of rotational positions and comprises a frame base and one or more raised portions (14) disposed on a radially inward surface of the outer portion; and an inner portion (9) disposed radially within the outer portion and associated with a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the locked state comprises one or more position locks that secure the outer portion in a rotational position of the plurality of rotational positions and couple with one or more raised portions of the outer portion, the one or more position locks disposed radially outward of a central axis; and the unlocked state comprises the one or more position locks releasing the one or more raised portions of the outer portion and permitting the outer portion to rotate around the inner portion.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5-7, 10, 15, 16, 19, and 20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. U.S. Patent No. 12,571,497 to Saunders is directed to a mounting system for mounting a device to an object includes a mount having a fixed portion and a movable portion slidingly engaged with the fixed portion. U.S. Patent No. 12,434,798 to Cifers, III et al. is directed to a mount having multiple mounting locations for mounting various accessories in relation to a mounting surface. U.S. Patent No. 11,976,781 to Cifers, III et al. is directed to a mounting structure that provides stability for the accessories mounted or supported in relation thereto. U.S. Patent No. 10,883,655 to Rowton is directed to a rotational bracket assembly suitable for securing a platform to a support at a selected angle with respect to the support. U.S. Patent No. 9,366,383 to Chien et al. is directed to a holder including a holding member, an attaching member, and a connecting structure. U.S. Patent No. 7,594,631 to Carnevali is directed to a quick connect mounting device for connecting to rails and other tubular structures. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2001/0046409 to Fischer is directed to a connector assembly for securing a device to a mounting surface to provide a full range of motion.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANITA M KING whose telephone number is (571)272-6817. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30am-4:00pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Terrell Mckinnon can be reached at 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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/ANITA M KING/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3632 May 30, 2026
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