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 .
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) 16-21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Lah (2013/0312231). Lah teaches the use of a seat post clamp assembly (100, 200, 400) for a micromobility vehicle comprising an adjustment handle (400) coupled to a seat clamp (200), wherein the adjustment handle is configured to be rotated about an axis of a barrel (420) of the adjustment handle, wherein the barrel is attached via a fastener (320) through a first through-hole (236) and via another fastener (320) through the third through-hole (236) that opposes the first through hole on the same side as the first through-hole. A second through-hole (226) is disposed on a second side of the clamp. The adjustment handle rotates about a center portion of the barrel, and wherein, upon rotation, the adjustment handle is in an open position to reduce a clamp force of the seat clamp around a seat post (2) so as to allow a height of the seat post to be adjusted (see para[0037], [0041], [0052]). Regarding claims 18-19, the adjustment handle of Lah is formed as a loop with a first and second end disposed on a surface of the barrel and which has one or more grip elements (410) to facilitate a manual rotation of the adjustment handle. Regarding claim 20, the adjustment handle has a plurality of scalloped notches (422) disposed on the barrel. Regarding claim 21, the fastener is inserted through open ends of the seat clamp and further through a fastener slot (422) disposed in the adjustment handle while the other fastener is inserted through a closed end of the seat clamp (upon the axle (310) being inserted therein) and a through a second fastener slot (422) of the adjustment handle (Fig. 5).
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) 2-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Carroll (4,789,176) in view of Lah (2013/0312231). Carroll shows the use of a micromobility vehicle, comprising: a seat post tube (22); a seat post (40) at least partially disposed inside the seat post tube; and a seat post clamp assembly (30,34) comprising a seat clamp (30) configured to physically secure the seat post clamp assembly to the seat post tube. The seat post has a plurality of inscribed markings (56) corresponding to a plurality of predetermined heights. (Fig. Carroll shows all of the teachings of the claimed invention but fails to show the use of a seat clamp comprising a first through-hole disposed on a first side of the seat clamp, a second through-hole disposed on a second side of the seat clamp opposite the first side, and a third through-hole disposed on the first side of the scat clamp. Lah teaches the use of a seat post clamp assembly (100,200,400) comprising an adjustment handle (400) coupled to a seat clamp (200), wherein the adjustment handle is configured to be rotated about an axis of a barrel (420) of the adjustment handle, wherein the barrel is attached via a fastener (320) through a first through-hole (236) and via another fastener (320) through the third through-hole (236) that opposes the first through hole on the same side as the first through-hole. A second through-hole (226) is disposed on a second side of the clamp. The adjustment handle rotates about a center portion of the barrel, and wherein, upon rotation, the adjustment handle is in an open position to reduce a clamp force of the seat clamp around a seat post (2) so as to allow a height of the seat post to be adjusted (see para[0037], [0041], [0052]). Regarding claims 5-6, the adjustment handle of Lah is formed as a loop with a first and second end disposed on a surface of the barrel and which has one or more grip elements (410) to facilitate a manual rotation of the adjustment handle. Regarding claim 7, the adjustment handle has a plurality of scalloped notches (422) disposed on the barrel. Regarding claim 8, the fastener is inserted through open ends of the seat clamp and further through a fastener slot (422) disposed in the adjustment handle while the other fastener is inserted through a closed end of the seat clamp (upon the axle (310) being inserted therein) and a through a second fastener slot (422) of the adjustment handle (Fig. 5). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to modify the seat post tube and seat post of Carroll with a clamp as taught by Lah in order to provide a greater clamp force while using a relatively small operating force. Consequently the method steps as recited would have been incorporated with the use of the invention as taught by Carroll in view of Lah.
Claim(s) 9-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lah (2013/0312231). Lah shows all of the teachings of the claimed invention. Consequently the method steps as recited would have been incorporated with the use of the invention, as taught by Lah.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANTHONY D BARFIELD whose telephone number is (571)272-6852. 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. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ANTHONY D BARFIELD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3636
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July 25, 2026
