Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-11-13)

CLAIMS:
AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS

The following is a complete, marked-up listing of revised claims with a status identifier in parenthesis, underlining indicating insertions, and strikethrough and/or double-bracketing indicating deletions.

Listing of Claims

1\. (Currently Amended) A post socket comprising:
a housing;
a compressible sleeve within the housing, the sleeve arranged to receive at least a portion of a post therein, wherein the sleeve comprises a grip section, the grip section being adjustably moveable between a first grip position in which the sleeve has a first internal width and a second grip position in which the sleeve has a second internal width, the second internal width being less than the first internal width;
a lever arm rotatably attached to the housing at a first pivot point, the lever arm configured to rotate about an axis of rotation perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the compressible sleeve ' ' ; and
an actuator configured to rotate the lever arm around the first pivot point;

wherein the grip section is rotatably attached to the lever arm at a second pivot point, the lever arm arranged to move the grip section, from the first grip position to the second grip position, to grip and thus retain at least a portion of a post within the sleeve.

2\. (Original) The post socket of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a projection extending from the housing, and an operator moveable relative to the projection, wherein the operator is movable in a first direction to rotate the lever arm around the first pivot point from a retracted position to an engaged position.

3\. (Original) The post socket of claim 2, wherein, when the lever arm is in the retracted position the grip section is in the first grip position, and when the lever arm is in the engaged position the grip section is in the second grip position.

4\. (Original) The post socket of claim 1, comprising a stop either extending from the lever arm towards the grip section, or extending from the grip section towards the lever arm, wherein, in use, with the stop being in contact with the lever arm and the grip section, further rotation of the grip section relative to the lever arm around the second pivot point is prevented with the grip section in contact with a post inserted within the compressible sleeve.

5\. (Original) The post socket of claim 4, wherein the stop is extendable and/or retractable relative to the grip section and/or lever arm.

6\. (Original) The post socket of claim 4, wherein the stop is extendable through an aperture within the lever arm.

7\. (Currently Amended) The post socket of claim 1, wherein the grip section is rotatable around the second pivot point such that, in use when a post is received within the compressible sleeve,an angle between the grip section's longitudinal axis and the post's longitudinal axis remains constant during movement of the grip section from the first grip position to the second grip position.

8\. (Currently Amended) The post socket of claim 1, wherein the grip section comprises a concave surface, and two grip section sides extending away from the concave surface in a direction parallel to a working plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

9\. (Currently Amended) The post socket of claim \[\[1\]\] 8 wherein the lever arm comprises a planar face perpendicular to the working plane, and two lever arm sides extending away from the planar face in a direction parallel to the working plane.

10\. (Currently Amended) The post socket of claim \[\[8\]\] 9, wherein the two grip section sides overlap the two lever arm sides.

11\. (Original) The post socket of claim 10, wherein the rotational axis of the second pivot point extends through the two grip section sides and the two lever arm sides.

12\. (Original) The post socket of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a locking mechanism configured to prevent actuation of the actuator when the locking mechanism is in a locked state.
13-14. (Cancelled)

15\. (Original) The post socket of claim 1, wherein the compressible sleeve comprises a cradle stationary relative to the housing, the cradle having a concave face opposed to the grip section.

16\. (Original) The post socket of claim 15, wherein the cradle is a section of the housing.

17\. (Original) The post socket of claim 1, wherein the post socket comprises a support bracket, the support bracket comprising a support plate, and a post section extending perpendicularly from the support plate, wherein, in use, the post section of the bracket is arranged to be securable within the compressible sleeve of the post socket.

18\. (Original) The post socket of claim 1, wherein a duct is attachable to the housing such that an opening of the duct is arranged concentrically with the longitudinal axis of the compressible sleeve.

19\. (Original) A method of installing a post, the method comprising the steps of:
providing the post socket of claim 1, with the grip section configured to be in the first grip position;
inserting a post within the compressible sleeve;
operating the actuator to rotate the lever arm around the first pivot point such that the grip section moves to the second grip position, thereby reducing the width of the compressible sleeve, and securing the post within the post socket.

20\. (Currently Amended) A system for securing a post, the system comprising:
a post; and

a post socket comprising:
a housing;
a compressible sleeve within the housing, the sleeve arranged to receive at least a portion of the post therein, wherein the sleeve comprises a grip section, the grip section being adjustably moveable between a first grip position in which the sleeve has a first internal width and a second grip position in which the sleeve has a second internal width, the second internal width being less than the first internal width;
a lever arm rotatably attached to the housing at a first pivot point, the lever arm configured to rotate about an axis of rotation perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the compressible sleeve ' ' ; and
an actuator configured to rotate the lever arm around the first pivot point;
wherein the grip section is rotatably attached to the lever arm at a second pivot point, the lever arm arranged to move the grip section, from the first grip position to the second grip position, to grip and thus retain at least a portion of the post within the sleeve.\*\*\* END OF CLAIM LISTING \*\*\*

OFFICE ACTION:
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 .
EXAMINER'S AMENDMENT
An examiner’s amendment to the record appears below. Should the changes and/or additions be unacceptable to applicant, an amendment may be filed as provided by 37 CFR 1.312. To ensure consideration of such an amendment, it MUST be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee.
Authorization for this examiner’s amendment was given in an interview with Ryan Alley on 10/22/2025.
The application has been amended as follows:
In The Claims:
1. 	(Currently Amended) A post socket comprising:
a housing;
a compressible sleeve within the housing, the sleeve arranged to receive at least a portion of a post therein, wherein the sleeve comprises a grip section, the grip section being adjustably moveable between a first grip position in which the sleeve has a first internal width and a second grip position in which the sleeve has a second internal width, the second internal width being less than the first internal width;
a lever arm rotatably attached to the housing at a first pivot point, the lever arm configured to rotate in a working plane, the working plane extending radially from and coplanar with the compressible sleeve’s longitudinal axis; and
an actuator configured to rotate the lever arm around the first pivot point;
wherein the grip section is rotatably attached to the lever arm at a second pivot point, the lever arm arranged to move the grip section, from the first grip position to the second grip position, to grip and thus retain at least a portion of a post within the sleeve.
…
8. 	(Currently Amended) The post socket of claim 1, wherein the grip section comprises a concave surface, and two grip section sides extending away from the concave surface in a direction parallel to [[a]] the working plane
…
20. 	(Currently Amended) A system for securing a post, the system comprising:
a post; and
a post socket comprising:
a housing;
a compressible sleeve within the housing, the sleeve arranged to receive at least a portion of the post therein, wherein the sleeve comprises a grip section, the grip section being adjustably moveable between a first grip position in which the sleeve has a first internal width and a second grip position in which the sleeve has a second internal width, the second internal width being less than the first internal width;
a lever arm rotatably attached to the housing at a first pivot point, the lever arm configured to rotate in a working plane, the working plane extending radially from and coplanar with the compressible sleeve’s longitudinal axis; and
an actuator configured to rotate the lever arm around the first pivot point; wherein the grip section is rotatably attached to the lever arm at a second pivot point, the lever arm arranged to move the grip section, from the first grip position to the second grip position, to grip and thus retain at least a portion of the post within the sleeve.
Reasons for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Simmons (US 2020/0190843) discloses a post socket with a housing, compressible sleeve with a grip section, lever arm, and actuator as claimed. However, its lever arm rotates in a working plane that is not extending radially from the compressible sleeves longitudinal axis and modification to that orientation would destroy its mechanism. Friedman (US 3,604,734) discloses a sleeve with a grip section but its sleeve is not within a housing and it lacks a lever arm. For these reasons, and as no additional references have been found which read on the recited subject matter, the claims have been found to be allowable over the prior art.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
Claims 1-12 and 15-20 are pending in the current application, with claims 13 and 14 being cancelled by this amendment. Claims 1-20 currently stand rejected, and claims 1, 7-10, and 20 have been amended. The Examiner notes allowable subject matter in claims 1-20, and Applicant thanks the Examiner for so noting. Reconsideration and allowance of claims 1-12 and 15-20 are respectfully requested in light of the preceding amendments and following remarks.
Drawing Objections
The drawings stand objected to under 37 C.F.R. § 1.83(a) for failure to show the locking mechanism of claim 14. Office Action, 1 4. Applicant has cancelled claim 14, without prejudice, rendering the rejection moot. The drawings as amended thus depict examples of the invention with sufficient clarity under 35 U.S.C. § 113. Withdrawal of the drawing objection is respectfully requested.
Claim Objections and Rejections - 35 U.S.C.
@
Claims 1-20 stand rejected for being indefinite under 35 U.S.C. § 112(b). On claim 1, the rejection finds "the working plane extending radially ... and parallel to the compressible sleeve's longitudinal axis" as unclearly require the plane and axis to intersect and this not be parallel. Office Action, 1 7. Applicant has amended claims 1
and 20 to restate the sleeve's longitudinal axis as the reference for an axis of rotation of the lever arm, instead of a plane: the lever arm can rotate "about an axis of rotation perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the compressible sleeve." This would include, for example, lever arm 29 as described in the specification paragraph [0083] rocking toward the cradle 21 forming the sleeve.
Further on claims 10, 11, and 13, the rejection finds a lack of antecedent basis
among the recited two lever arm side and nut.
Id
.
Applicant has amended claims 10 and 11 to depend from claim 9, to strictly preserve antecedent basis in referring back to "two lever arm sides" introduced in claim 9. Claim 13 has been cancelled without prejudice, rendering the rejection moot.
Because claims 1-20, when read in conjunction with the specification, inform
skilled artisans of their scope with reasonable certainty, they are definite.
Nautilus, Inc. v. Biosi
g
Instruments, Inc.
,
134 S.Ct. 2120, 2129 (2014). Withdrawal of the rejections under 35 U.S.C. § 112 to claims 1-20 is respectfully requested.
CONCLUSION


CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20200190843: Claims:
1. A post socket comprising:
a housing; a compressible sleeve within the housing, the compressible sleeve configured to receive at least a portion of a post therein, wherein the compressible sleeve is moveable between a first position in which the compressible sleeve has a first internal width and a second position in which the compressible sleeve has a second internal width which is less than the first internal width; a linkage pivotably connected to the compressible sleeve; and an actuator configured to actuate the linkage to move the compressible sleeve from the first position to the second position to grip and thus retain at least the portion of the post therein, wherein the linkage comprises:
a linkage body connected to the actuator, and
at least one arm comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the at least one arm is pivotably attached to the linkage body and the second end of the at least one arm is pivotably attached to the compressible sleeve, the actuator configured so that actuation of the actuator moves the linkage body to thereby move the first end and the second end of the at least one arm and thus move the compressible sleeve from the first position to the second position.
2. The post socket of claim 1, wherein the compressible sleeve comprises a slot which extends at least partially along the compressible sleeve parallel to a longitudinal axis of the compressible sleeve and is configured to at least partially close when the compressible sleeve is moved from the first position to the second position by the linkage.
3. The post socket of claim 2, wherein the compressible sleeve further comprises a first bracket positioned adjacent to a first side of the slot and a second bracket positioned adjacent to a second side of the slot.
4. The post socket of claim 3, wherein the first bracket comprises a first linkage attachment point and the second bracket comprises a second linkage attachment point, wherein the first linkage attachment point and the second linkage attachment point are connected to the linkage.
5. The post socket of claim 4, wherein the first linkage attachment point comprises a first pin projecting therefrom, and the second linkage attachment point comprises a second pin projecting therefrom.
6. The post socket of claim 2, further comprising a housing engagement bracket positioned on an outer surface of the compressible sleeve, wherein the housing engagement bracket comprises a housing engagement surface configured to engage with an internal surface of the housing.
7. The post socket of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an upper surface comprising an actuator aperture configured to receive a tool for rotation of the actuator therethrough in use, and a post aperture configured to receive at least a portion of a post therethrough.
8. The post socket of claim 7, further comprising a spigot positioned adjacent to the actuator aperture on an internal surface of the upper surface, the spigot including a through-hole, wherein the through-hole is aligned with the actuator aperture.
9. The post socket of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the upper surface is removable and the removable portion of the upper surface comprises the actuator aperture.
10. The post socket of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured such that rotation of the actuator moves the linkage body linearly to thereby move the compressible sleeve between the first position and the second position.
11. The post socket of claim 1, further comprising a stop member protruding from the housing arranged to limit the movement of the linkage body such that further movement of the linkage body is restricted and the compressible sleeve cannot move beyond the first position.
12. The post socket of claim 1, further comprising at least one restraining arm configured to restrict the movement of the second end of the at least one arm such that the second end of the at least one arm remains a fixed distance from a point on the housing, the restraining arm including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the at least one restraining arm is pivotably attached to the second end of the at least one arm and the second end of the at least one restraining arm is pivotably attached to the housing.
13. The post socket of claim 1, further comprising a limiting guide positioned on an interior surface of the housing, wherein the linkage body is configured to engage with the linear guide to restrict the linkage body to linear movement along an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the compressible sleeve.
14. The post socket of claim 1, wherein the linkage is positioned between the housing and the compressible sleeve.
15. The post socket of claim 1, wherein the compressible sleeve comprises a first part joined to a second part by a joint.
16. The post socket of claim 1, wherein the compressible sleeve comprises two semi-cylindrical halves such that the compressible sleeve has two slots opposite one another, both extending the entirety of a longitudinal axis of the compressible sleeve.
17. A post socket comprising:
a housing; a compressible sleeve within the housing, the compressible sleeve configured to receive at least a portion of a post therein, wherein the compressible sleeve is moveable between a first position in which the compressible sleeve has a first internal width and a second position in which the compressible sleeve has a second internal width which is less than the first internal width; a linkage pivotably connected to the compressible sleeve; and an actuator configured to actuate the linkage to move the compressible sleeve from the first position to the second position to grip and thus retain at least a portion of a post therein; wherein the compressible sleeve comprises a slot which extends at least partially along the compressible sleeve parallel to a longitudinal axis of the compressible sleeve and is configured to at least partially close when the compressible sleeve is moved from the first position to the second position by the linkage, and wherein the actuator is configured such that rotation of the actuator moves the linkage body linearly to thereby move the compressible sleeve between the first position and the second position.
Ref US3604734: Claims:
1. Mechanism for adjustably connecting two telescoping tubular members and for locking the same in adjusted positions, comprising relatively adjustable telescoping outer and inner tubular members, the said tubular members being internally spaced from each other transversely, a bushing located and occupying space between and defining a spacer for said tubular members, the said bushing comprising a sleeve of a plastic material the interior surface of which, in contact with the exterior surface of the inner tubular member, presents a frictionally smooth surface for enabling a sliding movement of said inner tubular member, the said bushing sleeve being attached to the outer tubular member at a region to restrain longitudinal movement thereof in said outer tubular member, whereby the said tubular members are freely, but with a sliding friction fit supplied by said bushing sleeve, relatively adjustable telescopically one with reference to the other, and means for adjustably locking the Said tubular members in telescopically adjusted positions, said means comprising a locking element fixed to the outer tubular member, said locking element comprising a resilient lever integrally fulcrumed on the outer tubular member and provided with a cup-shaped part movable into and out of engagement with the outer surface of said bushing sleeve to force the latter onto the inner tubular member for the locking action and release the same from the inner tubular member for the unlocking action, and a hand-operated member mounted on said outer tubular member movable thereon into and out of cooperative engagement with the cup-shaped part of said locking element.
2. The adjusting mechanism of claim 1 in which the bushing sleeve is localized at the upper end of the outer tubular member and in which the lower end of said inner tubular member has affixed thereto a plastic piece also occupying space between said tubular elements and defining means for frictionally guiding the telescoping movement of the inner tubular member at its lower end and for preventing rocking motion between said tubular members.
3. The adjusting mechanism of claim 1 in which the bushing sleeve is made of a plastic material possessing lubricity.
4. The adjusting mechanism of claim 2 in which the plastic bushing sleeve and the plastic piece are each made of a plastic material possessing lubricity.
5. The adjusting mechanism of claim 1, in which the hand-operated member comprises a screw-threaded part cooperating with the cup-shaped part.
6. The adjusting mechanism of claim 1 in which the outer tubular member comprises a standard attached to a table base, and the inner tubular member comprises a sole support carrying a tabletop, the adjusting mechanism defining the means for vertically adjusting the tabletop relatively to said base.
7. The adjusting mechanism of claim 1, in which the outer and inner tubular members are metallic members cross-sectionally shaped to confine the tubular members to only a vertical adjustment.
8. The adjusting mechanism of claim 1 in which the cup-shaped part of the resilient lever is formed with an outer annular edge positioned to engage the contiguous surface of the bushing sleeve to force the latter onto the inner tubular member.
9. The adjusting mechanism of claim 1 in which the cup-shaped part of the resilient member is formed (a) with an outer annular edge positioned for cooperative engagement with the contiguous surface of the bushing sleeve and (b) with an inner apex positioned for cooperative engagement by a screw-threaded part of the hand-operated member.