DETAILED ACTION
This is a non-final Office action in reply to the response filed 09/09/2026.
Status of Claims
Claims 1-19 are pending;
Claims 1-4 and 8-12 are original; claims 5-7 and 13-19 have been withdrawn;
Claims 1-4 and 8-12 are rejected herein.
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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant's election without traverse of Species C in the reply filed 09/09/2026 is acknowledged.
Applicant submits on page 2 of the remarks that claims 1-12, 14, 17, and 28 are readable on the elected Species C. Accordingly, claims 13, 15, 16, and 19 have been withdrawn by the Examiner from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.
Upon review, claims 5-7, 14, 17, and 18 have also been withdrawn by the Examiner from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.
Regarding claim 5, the elected Species C does not disclose the feature "wherein the first connector comprises a projection; wherein at least one side wall of the projection comprises the guide groove, and the second connector comprises a movable groove; and wherein at least one inner wall of the movable groove corresponding to the guide groove comprises the guide rail" (claim 5, lines 1-6). Therefore, claim 5 and claims dependent therefrom (i.e., claims 14-16) have been withdrawn by the Examiner from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.
Regarding claim 6, the elected Species C does not disclose the feature "wherein the first connector comprises the guide rail, and the second connector comprises the guide groove" (claim 6, lines 1 and 2). Therefore, claim 6 and claims dependent therefrom (i.e., claims 7, 13, and 17-19) have been withdrawn by the Examiner from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.
In summary, claims 5-7 and 13-19 have been withdrawn by the Examiner from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted 05/13/2025 and 09/09/2026 have been considered by the Examiner.
Claim Objections
Claims 3 and 12 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 3, line 2, "and the" appears to be --or the--.
Claim 3, line 3, "and the" appears to be --or the--.
Claim 12, line 2, "a third locking wrench" appears to be --a locking wrench--, since "a first locking wrench" and "a second locking wrench" are not recited in the claim.
Claim 12, lines 2 and 3, "a third locking pillar" appears to be --a locking pillar--, since "a first locking pillar" and "a second locking pillar" are not recited in the claim.
Claim 12, line 3, "a third locking block" appears to be --a locking block--, since "a first locking block" and "a second locking block" are not recited in the claim.
Claim 12, line 4, "a third accommodation groove" appears to be --an accommodation groove--, since "a first accommodation groove" and "a second accommodation groove" are not recited in the claim.
Claim 12, lines 5-9, the word "third" should be removed.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 8-11 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.
Regarding claim 8, the limitation "a second external device" in claim 8 (line 5) is indefinite. It is not clear as to whether the limitation "a second external device" in claim 8 (line 5) and the limitation "a second external device" in claim 1 (lines 6 and 7) refer to the same external device or different external devices. Appropriate correction is required.
Claims 9-11 are rejected as being dependent from a rejected claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
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.
Claims 1-4, 8, and 9, as best understood, are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Bardocz (US 4,033,539).
Regarding claim 1, Bardocz discloses an angle adjustment device (see Figure 7, the adjustment device as shown in Figure 7 can be rearranged to adjust angles), comprising: a first installation component (11, 14, I, fig 7), comprising a first installation base (I, fig 7) and a first connector (11, fig 7), wherein the first connector is connected to the first installation base (see Figure 7), and the first installation base is configured for installation on a first external device (see Figure 7, the first installation base I has the configuration to perform the above intended use); a second installation component (14, 16', 21, II, III, fig 7), comprising a second installation base (14, 16', 21, III, fig 7) and a second connector (II, fig 7), wherein the second installation base is configured for installation of a second external device (see Figure 7, the second installation base 14, 16', 21, III has the configuration to perform the above intended use), the second connector is connected to the second installation base (see Figure 7), and the first connector is movably arranged on the second connector (see Figure 7), enabling the first connector and the second connector to move relative to each other (see Figure 7); and a locking component (see col 3, lines 21-32, the hidden fastening screw 14 on the coupling part 11), provided on the first connector or the second connector (see col 3, lines 21-32), and configured to restrict a relative movement between the first connector and the second connector (see Figure 7, see col 3, lines 21-32, the hidden fastening screw 14 has the configuration to perform the above intended use).
[AltContent: textbox (16g – Sliding Groove)]
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[AltContent: connector][AltContent: textbox (13 – Guide Groove)]
[AltContent: connector]
[AltContent: textbox (15 – First Locking Member)]
[AltContent: connector]
Regarding claim 2, wherein the first installation base is provided on a side of the first connector away from the second installation base (see Figure 7), and the second installation base is provided on a side of the second connector away from the first installation base (see Figure 7).
Regarding claim 3, wherein one of the first connector and the second connector comprises a guide rail (II, fig 7), and an another of the first connector and the second connector comprises a guide groove (13, fig 6, also see annotation above); and wherein the guide rail is slidably arranged in the guide groove (see Figure 7).
Regarding claim 4, wherein the first connector comprises the guide groove (13, fig 6), and the second connector comprises the guide rail (II, fig 7).
Regarding claim 8, wherein the second installation base comprises a base body (III, fig 7), an installation part (16', fig 7) and a first locking member (15, fig 7, see annotation above, the fastening screw, also see Figure 6); and wherein the second connector is connected to the base body (see Figure 7), the installation part is configured for installation of a second external device (see Figure 7, the installation part 16' has the configuration to perform the above intended use) and the installation part is movably connected to the base body (see Figure 7), and the first locking member is provided on the installation part (see Figure 7) and is configured for locking the installation part to the base body (see Figure 7, the first locking member 15 has the configuration to perform the above intended use).
Regarding claim 9, wherein a side of the installation part facing the base body is provided with a sliding groove (16g, fig 7, see annotation, the side groove, also see Figure 9); and wherein the base body is installed in the sliding groove and cooperates with an inclined plane of the sliding groove (see Figures 7 and 9, the inclined plane can be seen in Figure 9 as one side of the sliding groove 16g is inclined), and the first locking member is configured to lock the base body (see Figure 7, the first locking member 15 has the configuration to perform he above intended use); in response to an actuation of the first locking member, a position of the installation part relative to the second connector is capable of movement (see Figure 7).
Claims 1-4 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Shenzhen (CN 209725699 U)1.
Regarding claim 1, Shenzhen discloses an angle adjustment device (see Figure 1, the shooting terminal stabilizer as shown), comprising: a first installation component (11, 14, 15, fig 1), comprising a first installation base (14, fig 1) and a first connector (11, 15, fig 1), wherein the first connector is connected to the first installation base (see Figure 1), and the first installation base is configured for installation on a first external device (1, fig 1); a second installation component (2, 3, 12, 13, fig 1), comprising a second installation base (2, 3, 12, fig 1) and a second connector (13, fig 1), wherein the second installation base is configured for installation of a second external device (see Figure 1, the camera as shown), the second connector is connected to the second installation base (see Figure 1), and the first connector is movably arranged on the second connector (see Figure 1), enabling the first connector and the second connector to move relative to each other (see Figure 1); and a locking component (15a, fig 1, see annotation, the locking component on the roll mechanism 15, also see Figures 4 and 7, identical to the locking component in Figure 7), provided on the first connector or the second connector (see Figure 1), and configured to restrict a relative movement between the first connector and the second connector (see Figure 1, the locking component 15a has the configuration to perform the above intended use, also see Figures 4 and 7).
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[AltContent: textbox (15a – Locking Component)]
[AltContent: connector][AltContent: connector]
[AltContent: textbox (15b – Guide Groove)]
Regarding claim 2, wherein the first installation base is provided on a side of the first connector away from the second installation base (see Figure 1), and the second installation base is provided on a side of the second connector away from the first installation base (see Figure 1).
Regarding claim 3, wherein one of the first connector and the second connector comprises a guide rail (13, fig 1), and an another of the first connector and the second connector comprises a guide groove (15b, fig 1, see annotation, the guide groove defined by the roll mechanism 15); and wherein the guide rail is slidably arranged in the guide groove (see Figure 1).
Regarding claim 4, wherein the first connector comprises the guide groove (15b, fig 1, see annotation, the guide groove defined by the roll mechanism 15), and the second connector comprises the guide rail (13, fig 1).
Regarding claim 12, wherein the locking component is arranged on the first connector (see Figures 1 and 4) and comprises a third locking wrench (752, fig 4), a third locking pillar (75, fig 7), and a third locking block (73, fig 7); wherein the first connector is provided with a third accommodation groove (74, fig 7); and wherein the third locking block is accommodated in the third accommodation groove (see Figures 1, 4, and 7), the third locking pillar is connected to both the third locking wrench and the third locking block (see Figures 1, 4, and 7), the third locking wrench is arranged on the first connector (see Figures 1, 4, and 7), and the third locking wrench is configured to drive the third locking block to lock the guide rail in the guide groove (see Figures 1, 4, and 7, the locking wrench 752 has the configuration to perform the above intended use).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 10 and 11 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.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to Applicant's disclosure. See the attached PTO-892 for various supports.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Guang H Guan whose telephone number is (571) 272-7828. The examiner can normally be reached weekdays (10:00 AM - 6:00 PM).
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, Jonathan Liu can be reached at (571) 272-8227. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/G. H. G./Examiner, Art Unit 3631
/JONATHAN LIU/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3631
1 A copy of Shenzhen is available in the record with a filing date of 09/09/2026. A translation of Shenzhen is attached to the current Office action.
