Office Action 4: Notice of Allowance (2025-07-15)

CLAIMS:
Amendments to ClaimsThis listing of claims will replace all prior versions and listings of claims in the application.

1\. (Cancelled)

2\. (Previously presented) The stand according to claim 5, wherein the operating assembly is arranged at an end of the first section away from the second section.

3\. (Cancelled)

4\. (Previously presented) The stand according to claim 5, wherein the hollow screw and the driving rod are connected in a form-fit manner, wherein when the driving rod rotates, the hollow screw rotates together therewith.

5\. (Previously presented) A one-step locking stand, comprising: a fixing portion and at least one supporting leg connected to the fixing portion, wherein the supporting leg comprises:
first, second and third sections connected one another along an axial direction, each section being movable axially relative to other sections to extend or shorten the supporting leg;
an operating assembly arranged at one of the sections;
a first transmission assembly connected to the operating assembly;
a first locking assembly fixedly arranged at the second section, slidably connected to the first section, and connected to the first transmission assembly;
a second transmission assembly, slidable through a lumen of the second section, connected to the first locking assembly, as well as arranged spaced apart from the first transmission assembly; and
a second locking assembly arranged at the third section and connected to the second transmission assembly;
wherein when the operating assembly is operated, the first locking assembly is driven by the first transmission assembly to move axially, to lock or release the first section relative to the second section, and meanwhile, the second transmission assembly is driven by the first locking assembly to move axially, and the second locking assembly is driven by the second transmission assembly to lock or release the third section relative to the second section, so as to achieve one-step locking or releasing of all the sections of the supporting leg;
wherein the first transmission assembly comprises:
a driving rod connected to the operating assembly and extending axially;
a hollow screw mounted around one end of the driving rod away from the operating assembly and connected to the first locking assembly; and
a fixing nut threadedly connected to an outer periphery of the hollow screw,
wherein the operating assembly is configured to drive the driving rod to rotate axially, and when the driving rod rotates, the hollow screw moves axially under joint action of the driving rod and the fixing nut, driving the first locking assembly to move axially; and
wherein the first locking assembly comprises a sliding seat respectively mounted around the first and second sections, as well as an adjusting member and a locking block movably arranged within the sliding seat; wherein the adjusting member is connected to the second transmission assembly and defines a through hole penetrating axially, a top end of the hollow screw passes through the through hole from bottom to top and is then connected to the fixing nut, the fixing nut is fixedly arranged within the sliding seat, a bottom end of the hollow screw supports a bottom end of the adjusting member, and the locking block is arranged between the adjusting member and the first section; wherein when the hollow screw moves axially, the adjusting member moves axially together therewith, thereby driving the locking block to move towards or away from the first section, and the adjusting member drives the second transmission assembly to move axially at the same time.

6\. (Original) The stand according to claim 5, wherein the adjusting member comprises an upper slider, an ejecting slider and a supporting slider deposed in axial order, the upper slider is configured to drive the locking block to move towards or away from the first section, the ejecting slider has an ejecting portion protruding out from the sliding seat, and the supporting slider is connected to the sliding seat through the ejecting portion, and wherein when the ejecting portion is operated, the ejecting slider drives the upper slider to move axially.

7\. (Previously presented) The stand according to claim 5, wherein the first section comprises two first pipes respectively spaced apart on both sides of the driving rod, the second section comprises two second pipes respectively spaced apart on both sides of the driving rod, each second pipe is movable axially between the driving rod and a corresponding first pipe, and the third section comprises a third pipe movable to mount around the driving rod.

8\. (Original) The stand according to claim 7, wherein the second section further comprises a hollow central shaft extending axially, and the third pipe is movable to be inserted into a lumen of the central shaft.

9\. (Previously presented) The stand according to claim 7, wherein the adjusting member defines one or more perforations running axially therethrough, the second transmission assembly successively passes through a lumen of one second pipe, the one or more perforations, and a lumen of another second pipe, and then connects to the second locking assembly.

10\. (Previously presented) The stand according to claim 5, wherein the second transmission assembly is a cable.

11\. (Original) The stand according to claim 7, wherein the second locking assembly comprises a locking ring and a locking piece, the locking piece defines a locking cavity and is connected to one end of the second transmission assembly, wherein the locking ring comprises a surrounding segment mounted around the third pipe and two free segments respectively connected to both ends of the surrounding segment and received within the locking cavity, and wherein when the second transmission assembly moves axially, the locking piece is driven to move axially together therewith, and the locking cavity matches with the two free segments to bring them to move towards or away from each other, such that the surrounding segment locks or releases the third pipe.

12\. (Original) The stand according to claim 6, wherein one side of the supporting slider is provided with a limiter which defines a fixing hole, and the ejecting portion passes through the fixing hole and extends outside the sliding seat.

13\. (Original) The stand according to claim 6, wherein the ejecting portion is an adjusting screw threaded to the ejecting slider.

14\. (Original) The stand according to claim 6, wherein an extension direction of the ejecting portion is substantially perpendicular to the axial direction.

15\. (Previously presented) The stand according to claim 9, wherein a number of the perforations is two, and the adjusting member is recessed with a groove for holding the second transmission assembly, with the two perforations respectively located at each end of the groove.

16\. (Previously presented) The stand according to claim 5, wherein the at least one
supporting leg comprises three supporting legs.

17\. (Previously presented) The stand according to claim 5, wherein the operating assembly comprises a supporter,
a pivot pin rotatably arranged on the supporter and in torque transmission connection with the driving rod, and
a handle connected to the pivot pin,
wherein when the handle is operated, the pivot pin is brought to rotate by the handle, and the driving rod is driven to rotate about a central axis thereof by the pivot pin.

18\. (Original) The stand according to claim 17, wherein a first bevel gear is provided on an outer periphery of the pivot pin, a second bevel gear, which engages with the first bevel gear, is provided on an upper end of the driving rod, and the first bevel gear is arranged perpendicular to the second bevel gear.

19\. (Previously presented) The stand according to claim 5, wherein an outer periphery of the hollow screw is provided with an external thread threaded to the fixing nut.

20\. (Original) The stand according to claim 19, wherein an axial length of the external thread of the hollow screw is greater than an axial length of the fixing nut.

21\. (Cancelled)

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 .
Amendment filed 6/27/2025 has been entered.  Claims 2 and 4-20 remain pending in the present application.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2 and 4-20 are allowable over the prior art of record.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: In the Final Rejection dated 4/28/2025, the Examiner rejected claim 1 in view of Liang CN 112856168 and indicated claims 2 and 4-20 were allowable.  The Examiner also objected to claim 21 as including allowable subject matter but depending from rejection claim 1.  By amendment, Applicant has canceled claims 1 and 21, thereby eliminating all rejected claims and only including allowable claims.  Therefore, the case is in condition for allowance in the Examiner’s position.
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.”

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKSClaims 2 and 4-20 are now pending. Claims 1 and 21 has been cancelled. No new matter is involved. The examiner is required to enter the same.Allowable Subject Matter Applicant notes with appreciation that claims 2 and 4-20 are allowable over the prior art.Claim Rejections-35 USC  § 102 Claim 1 stands rejected to under 35 U.S.C. 112(a)(1) as being anticipated by Liang CN 112856168 (hereinafter Liang).In response, claim 1 and claim 21 depending on claim 1 have been cancelled without prejudice or disclaimer.Therefore, withdrawal of the above rejections is respectfully required.CONCLUSIONFor at least the foregoing reasons, it is believed that all the pending claims of the present application are in proper condition for allowance. An action to such effect is earnestly requested.Respectfully Submitted, Kevin P. Chen /Kevin P. Chen/ Registration No. 76206 6


CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US5320316A: Claims:
I claim: 1. An extensible support leg for a portable stand or support comprising a plurality of pairs of parallel elongate leg members arranged in two or more planes, adapted such that the leg is extensible by relative sliding movement between pairs in respective first and second planes, and means for releasibly locking the leg members in any desired position, the leg comprising a first leg part formed by a pair of parallel leg members in said first plane, a second leg part formed by a pair of parallel leg members in a second plane, and a third leg part formed by a pair of parallel leg members in said second plane, wherein the extensible support leg is assembled by interconnecting the first leg part with the second leg part and the second leg part with the third leg part, the first leg part including two spacers, one spacer having through holes for slidably receiving the pair of parallel leg members in the first plane of the second leg. 2. An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 1 wherein each pair of leg members is spaced apart at their ends by rigid spacers, forming a box-sectioned portion, at least one of said spacers having through holes for slidably receiving a second pair of leg members. 3. An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second leg part includes two spacers, one spacer having through holes for slidably receiving the pair of parallel leg members in the first plane of the first leg part and having means for releasably locking said pair of parallel leg members in any desired position with respect to the second leg part, and the second spacer having through holes for slidably receiving the pair of parallel leg members in the second plane of the third leg part. 4. An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 3 wherein the third leg part includes two spacers, one spacer having through holes for slidably receiving the pair of parallel leg members in the second plane of the second leg part and having means for releasably locking said pair of parallel leg members in any desired position with respect to the third leg part. 5. An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 2 wherein the spacers having through holes are provided with at least one ring fitted within a corresponding shaped radial groove in the hole defining area of the spacer. 6. An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 5 wherein the radial groove has a diameter greater than the diameter of the ring such that there is a tolerance therebetween. 7. An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 5 wherein the ring is split. 8. An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 7 wherein the split starts at the inner face of the ring and is generally tangential thereto. 9. An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ring is made of a low friction plastics material. 10. An extensible support leg including a first leg part having clamping means secured thereto, the clamping means comprising a body portion having at least two spaced retaining holes passing therethrough, each retaining hole slidably receiving an extension member, the extension members being substantially parallel and providing a second leg part; the body portion defining a housing which is located between the retaining holes and receives a locking member, the locking member having two planar abutment surfaces forming angles of less than 90° with the longitudinal axis thereof and being located in the housing and capable of longitudinal adjustment within the housing; the housing communicating with each retaining hole through one of a plurality of internal passages provided in the body portion within each of which passages is slidably located a clamping member having a planar surface having a complementary angle to an abutment surface for engaging the respective abutment surface, each clamping member having a length greater than the length of the internal passage in which it is located; wherein the second leg part can be clamped relative to the first leg part by longitudinal adjustment of the locking member relative to the body portion to cause the abutment surfaces of the locking member to engage and slide over the respective abutment surfaces of the clamping members to urge said members towards their respective retaining holes and to thereby clamp the extension members in their respective retaining holes. 11. An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 10 wherein the locking member is floatingly located in the housing. 12. An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 10 wherein the locking member is of a trapezoidal shape and has at least two abutment surfaces forming the tapered sides thereof. 13. An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 10, wherein the clamping means includes shoes upon which the clamping members act to clamp the extension members. 14. An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 10, wherein the clamping member is floatingly located in the housing. 15. An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 14 wherein the clamping members are supported for relative rotation with respect to the shoes and the locking member such that longitudinal adjustment of the locking member causes rotational adjustment of the clamping members to abuttingly align the planar surfaces of the locking member and the clamping members. 16. An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 15 wherein each clamping member includes a spigot shaped to fit within a corresponding shaped recess in each shoe, there being a tolerance between the spigot and recess diameters to allow for relative rotation of the clamping members with respect to the shoes. 17. A portable stand or support comprising at least one extensible support leg as claimed in claim 1 or claim 10. 18. A tripod comprising three extensible support legs, each leg being as claimed in claim 1 or claim 10. 19. An extensible support leg for a portable stand or support comprising a plurality of pairs of parallel elongate leg members, each pair being arranged in two planes and each leg member in the second plane lying behind a respective leg member in the first plane such that the plane common to the axes of said leg member is perpendicular to the first and second planes, said leg members being extensible by sliding movement between pairs in respective first and second planes, and means for releasibly locking the leg members in any desired position.
An extensible support leg for a portable stand or support comprising a plurality of pairs of parallel elongate leg members arranged in two or more planes, adapted such that the leg is extensible by relative sliding movement between pairs in respective first and second planes, and means for releasibly locking the leg members in any desired position, the leg comprising a first leg part formed by a pair of parallel leg members in said first plane, a second leg part formed by a pair of parallel leg members in a second plane, and a third leg part formed by a pair of parallel leg members in said second plane, wherein the extensible support leg is assembled by interconnecting the first leg part with the second leg part and the second leg part with the third leg part, the first leg part including two spacers, one spacer having through holes for slidably receiving the pair of parallel leg members in the first plane of the second leg.
An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 1 wherein each pair of leg members is spaced apart at their ends by rigid spacers, forming a box-sectioned portion, at least one of said spacers having through holes for slidably receiving a second pair of leg members.
An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second leg part includes two spacers, one spacer having through holes for slidably receiving the pair of parallel leg members in the first plane of the first leg part and having means for releasably locking said pair of parallel leg members in any desired position with respect to the second leg part, and the second spacer having through holes for slidably receiving the pair of parallel leg members in the second plane of the third leg part.
An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 3 wherein the third leg part includes two spacers, one spacer having through holes for slidably receiving the pair of parallel leg members in the second plane of the second leg part and having means for releasably locking said pair of parallel leg members in any desired position with respect to the third leg part.
An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 2 wherein the spacers having through holes are provided with at least one ring fitted within a corresponding shaped radial groove in the hole defining area of the spacer.
An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 5 wherein the radial groove has a diameter greater than the diameter of the ring such that there is a tolerance therebetween.
An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 5 wherein the ring is split.
An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 7 wherein the split starts at the inner face of the ring and is generally tangential thereto.
An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ring is made of a low friction plastics material.
An extensible support leg including a first leg part having clamping means secured thereto, the clamping means comprising a body portion having at least two spaced retaining holes passing therethrough, each retaining hole slidably receiving an extension member, the extension members being substantially parallel and providing a second leg part; the body portion defining a housing which is located between the retaining holes and receives a locking member, the locking member having two planar abutment surfaces forming angles of less than 90° with the longitudinal axis thereof and being located in the housing and capable of longitudinal adjustment within the housing; the housing communicating with each retaining hole through one of a plurality of internal passages provided in the body portion within each of which passages is slidably located a clamping member having a planar surface having a complementary angle to an abutment surface for engaging the respective abutment surface, each clamping member having a length greater than the length of the internal passage in which it is located; wherein the second leg part can be clamped relative to the first leg part by longitudinal adjustment of the locking member relative to the body portion to cause the abutment surfaces of the locking member to engage and slide over the respective abutment surfaces of the clamping members to urge said members towards their respective retaining holes and to thereby clamp the extension members in their respective retaining holes.
An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 10 wherein the locking member is floatingly located in the housing.
An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 10 wherein the locking member is of a trapezoidal shape and has at least two abutment surfaces forming the tapered sides thereof.
An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 10, wherein the clamping means includes shoes upon which the clamping members act to clamp the extension members.
An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 10, wherein the clamping member is floatingly located in the housing.
An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 14 wherein the clamping members are supported for relative rotation with respect to the shoes and the locking member such that longitudinal adjustment of the locking member causes rotational adjustment of the clamping members to abuttingly align the planar surfaces of the locking member and the clamping members.
An extensible support leg as claimed in claim 15 wherein each clamping member includes a spigot shaped to fit within a corresponding shaped recess in each shoe, there being a tolerance between the spigot and recess diameters to allow for relative rotation of the clamping members with respect to the shoes.
A portable stand or support comprising at least one extensible support leg as claimed in claim 1 or claim 10.
A tripod comprising three extensible support legs, each leg being as claimed in claim 1 or claim 10.
An extensible support leg for a portable stand or support comprising a plurality of pairs of parallel elongate leg members, each pair being arranged in two planes and each leg member in the second plane lying behind a respective leg member in the first plane such that the plane common to the axes of said leg member is perpendicular to the first and second planes, said leg members being extensible by sliding movement between pairs in respective first and second planes, and means for releasibly locking the leg members in any desired position.
Ref US20040051010A1: Claims:
A support means of adjustable height comprising at least one leg assembly having a first leg unit, a second leg unit and a third leg unit, said first and second leg units being slidably movable relative to each other, said second and third leg units being slidably movable relative to each other, first fixing means for selectively locking and unlocking the third leg unit relative to the second leg unit, second fixing means for selectively locking an unlocking the third leg unit relative to the second leg unit, first actuating means for selectively actuating the first fixing means between locked and unlocked positions and second actuating means for selectively actuating the second fixing means between locked and unlocked positions, characterised in that the first and second actuating means are independently actuatable to selectively and independently lock or unlock the first fixing means and the second fixing means, and that the first actuation means and the second actuating means are positioned in close proximity to each other such that the first actuating means and the second actuating means can be operated essentially simultaneously by a user to thereby essentially simultaneously lock or unlock the first fixing means and the second fixing means.
A support means according to claim 1 wherein the first actuating means and the second actuating means are positioned substantially adjacent to each other.
A support means according to claim 2 wherein the second actuating means is positioned adjacent to and below the first actuating means.
A support means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the second actuating means is positioned away from the second fixing means and the second actuating means is connected to the second fixing means by a connecting member.
A support means as claimed in claim 4 wherein the connecting member comprises a torsion bar.
A support means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the fixing means comprises a clamping means for selectively clamping the leg units to prevent relative movement of the leg units.
A support means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first actuating means comprises a first lever and the second actuating means comprises a second lever.
A support means as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first and second levers rotate around respective pivot points.
A support means as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first and second levers include an eccentric such that the levers can be moved to overcome a dead centre to thereby lock respective fixing means.
A support means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first fixing means and the second fixing means are mounted to the second leg unit.
A support means as claimed in claim 10 wherein the second leg unit comprises a plurality of legs spaced laterally apart, with a first cross member extending between the legs to hold the legs in spaced apart relationship, the first cross-member including receiving means for slidably receiving one or more legs of the first leg unit, a second cross member extending between the plurality of legs of the second leg unit, the second cross member including receiving means for slidably receiving one or more legs of the third leg unit.
A support means as claimed in claim 11 wherein the first fixing means clamps the one or more legs of the first leg unit and the second fixing means clamps the one or more legs of the third leg unit.
A support means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the leg(s) of the first leg unit are telescopically slidable in the leg(s) of the second leg unit and the leg( 2 ) of the third leg unit are telescopically slidable within the leg(s) of the second leg unit.
A support means as claimed in claims 11 or 12 wherein the first fixing means is mounted on the first cross member and the second fixing means is mounted on the second cross member.
A support means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a tripod.
A leg assembly having a first leg unit, a second leg unit and a third leg unit, said first and second leg units being slidably movable relative to each other, said second and third leg units being slidably movable relative to each other, first fixing means for selectively locking and unlocking the first leg unit relative to the second leg unit, second fixing means for selectively locking and unlocking the third leg unit relative to the second leg unit, first actuating means for selectively actuating the first fixing means between locked and unlocked positions and second actuating means for selectively actuating the second fixing means between locked and unlocked positions, characterised in that the first and second actuating means are independently actuatable to selectively and independently lock of unlock the first fixing means and the second fixing means and the first actuating means and the second actuating means are positioned in close proximity to each other such that the first actuating means and the second actuating means can be operated essentially simultaneously by a user to thereby essentially simultaneously lock or unlock the first fixing means and the second fixing means.
Ref US20180252354A1: [content unavailable]
Ref US7654494B2: Claims:
Improved tripod having three legs substantially at 120Â° each other, said legs being coupled above by a connection element for fixing a camera or television camera, each leg being provided with three stages, movable telescopically each other, respectively a first stage or upper stage, a second stage or central stage and a third stage or lower stage, said first stage being fixed above to said connection element for fixing a camera or television camera, being it possible positioning said legs grouped centrally or spread out, said two positions being obtainable both with stages of the legs collected and totally or partially extended, said tripod being characterised in that a blocking/release lever is provided on each leg, said lever being provided in correspondence of the upper portion of the second stage, said lever being operable according to a substantially vertical direction and acting on blocking/release means between the first stage and the second stage and on blocking/release means between the second stage and the third stage, being further provided tension rod means between said lever and said third stage, said tension rod means, actuated by said lever, interacting with said blocking/release means between the second stage and the third stage, sliding each other between second stage and third stage occurring only after the full opening of the second stage with respect to the first stage, wherein said blocking/release means between the first stage and the second stage comprise a wedge-shaped bracket, operably coupled with said actuation lever and acting by friction on the sliding elements of said second stage, wedge-shaped bracket being displaced by the action of said lever, removing friction coupling and releasing the second stage, thus freeing its sliding.
The tripod according to claim 1 , wherein a spring is provided between said lever and said wedge-shaped bracket, said spring keeping said wedge-shaped bracket normally pushing on said second stage.
The tripod
[Truncated to input limit]