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 .
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
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Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim(s) 1 of U.S. Patent No. 12483768 in view of Song (US 20190297231) (hereinafter Song).
Regarding claim 1,
Instant Application
U.S. Patent No. 12483768 Claim 1
A system comprising:
A system for mounting an image sensor to a surface comprising:
a sensor block comprising:
a sensor block comprising:
a housing defining a set of engagement features;
a housing defining: a front face; and a rear face opposite the front face and defining a set of engagement features;
a sensor arranged in the housing; and
an image sensor: arranged in the housing; and facing outwardly from the front face of the housing;
a receptacle:
a receptacle:
arranged on the housing; and
arranged on the rear face of the housing; and
configured to receive an electrical cable; and
configured to receive an electrical cable; and
a kit of mounts comprising:
a kit of mounts comprising:
a universal bracket defining:
a universal bracket defining:
a first mounting plate comprising:
a first mounting plate comprising:
a cutaway feature arranged on an edge of the universal bracket and configured to pass the electrical cable to the receptacle; and
a cutaway feature arranged on an edge of the universal bracket and configured to pass the electrical cable to the receptacle; and
a set of latches;
a set of latches;
a first mounting bore configured to receive a mounting rod suspended from a ceiling surface;
a first mounting bore configured to receive a mounting rod suspended from a ceiling surface;
a first set of through-holes arranged about the first mounting bore and configured to receive a set of fasteners to mount the universal bracket to the ceiling surface;
a first set of through-holes arranged about the first mounting bore and configured to receive a set of fasteners to mount the universal bracket to the ceiling surface;
a first set of standoffs extending below the first mounting plate, arranged about the first mounting bore, and configured to offset the housing below the first mounting plate; and
a first set of standoffs extending below the first mounting plate, arranged about the first mounting bore, and configured to offset the rear face of the housing below the first mounting plate; and
a first set of retention features arranged on the set of standoffs and configured to transiently engage and retain the set of engagement features of the housing; and
a first set of retention features arranged on the set of standoffs and configured to transiently engage and retain the set of engagement features of the housing; and
a junction mount comprising a second mounting plate:
a junction mount comprising a second mounting plate:
a set of latch retainers configured to receive and retain the set of latches of the universal bracket;
a set of latch retainers configured to receive and retain the set of latches of the universal bracket;
a second set of through-holes arranged about the set of latch retainers and configured to couple the junction mount to an electrical junction box; and
a second set of through-holes arranged about the set of latch retainers and configured to couple the junction mount to an electrical junction box; and
a port configured to pass the electrical cable to the receptacle.
a port configured to pass the electrical cable to the receptacle.
Although claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 12483768 does not specify a housing with a set of engagement features, a sensor arranged in the housing, and a receptacle arranged on the housing in the broader scope form of the instant application, Song figure 4 and paragraphs 25-35 teaches a housing with a set of engagement features, a sensor arranged in the housing, and a receptacle arranged on the housing. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the invention disclosed by claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 12483768 with the a housing with a set of engagement features, a sensor arranged in the housing, and a receptacle arranged on the housing of Song so that the System of U.S. Patent No. 12483768 may include a housing with a set of engagement features, a sensor arranged in the housing, and a receptacle arranged on the housing in a broader scope form.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under non-statutory double patenting rejections as detailed above, but would be allowable if those rejections were overcome, due to containing subject matter allowable for similar reasons as noted in parent application 17/737629 (US 12483768).
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Claim 1 contains the limitations regarding a universal mount first plate that receives a mounting rod from a ceiling surface in a mounting bore, has a set of standoffs and retention features that engage with engagement features on a housing, has a cutaway for passing an electrical cable, and also has latches that engage with a junction mount second plate with latch retainers that has through holes for coupling to a junction box with a port in the second plate for passing an electrical cable to the receptable of a camera housing. At the time of the effective filing date of the application, these limitations had not been fully anticipated and it would not have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to combine elements of the prior art to meet this limitation.
The closest prior art, Song (US 20190297231), Donaldson (US 20150358538), Koblin (US 20210241493), Elberbaum (US 6268882), Wu et al. (US 20210348746), Okamura et al. (US 20080002026), Griggs et al. (US 20190041245), Huang et al. (US 20180120672), Park et al. (US 20200241396), Wood (US 10041919), De Pape et al. (US 8821045), Fu et al. (US 9992389), Fu et al. (US 11304274) either singularly or in combination fail to anticipate or render obvious the above described limitations. While the prior art teaches ceiling mounts, wall mounts, and various plates with attachment pieces and latches, the prior art does not teach a universal mount first plate that receives a mounting rod from a ceiling surface in a mounting bore, has a set of standoffs and retention features that engage with engagement features on a housing, has a cutaway for passing an electrical cable, and also has latches that engage with a junction mount second plate with latch retainers that has through holes for coupling to a junction box with a port in the second plate for passing an electrical cable to the receptable of a camera housing. Therefore, at the time of the effective filing date of the application, these limitations had not been fully anticipated and it would not have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to combine elements of the prior art to meet this limitation.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Matthew D Kim whose telephone number is (571)272-3527. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday: 9:30am - 5:30pm EST.
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/MATTHEW DAVID KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2483
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