Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 17/059,137

SKATE OR OTHER FOOTWEAR

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Nov 25, 2020
Priority
Feb 09, 2016 — provisional 62/292,998 +2 more
Examiner
LEE, EDMUND H
Art Unit
1744
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
BAUER HOCKEY LLC
OA Round
6 (Final)
69%
Grant Probability
Favorable
7-8
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 69% — above average
69%
Career Allowance Rate
808 granted / 1164 resolved
+4.4% vs TC avg
Strong +18% interview lift
Without
With
+17.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
39 currently pending
Career history
1198
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
48.2%
+8.2% vs TC avg
§102
25.1%
-14.9% vs TC avg
§112
22.6%
-17.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1164 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 . Claims 1-7,12-18,23-27,57-58, and 60 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. Claim 1 is indefinite because it is unclear where the preamble ends and the body of the claim begins. A transition phrase is missing. The phrase “the second” (cl 1: 24) lacks antecedent basis in the claim. The phrase should be amended to –the second one--. Correction is required. Claims 1-7,12-18,23-27,57-58 and 60 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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. Non-elected with traverse claims 28-29,32 and 59 must be canceled before the instant application can be allowed. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the prior art of record including the closest prior art GB784168 in view of CN206124138 neither teaches nor renders obvious every claimed limitation including a last for molding a body of a skate boot of a skate comprising the last comprises a plurality of last members configured to mold the medial side portion, the lateral side portion, the heel portion, the ankle portion, and the toe portion of the body of the skate boot and movable relative to one another to change between its molding configuration and its demolding configuration; a first one of the last members that is configured to form at least part of the heel portion of the body of the skate boot, a second one of the last members that is configured to form at least part of the toe portion of the body of the skate boot, and a third one of the last members that is configured to form at least part of a given one of the medial side portion and the lateral side portion of the body of the skate boot are movable relative to one another and between portions of the female mold as the last changes between its molding configuration and its demolding configuration; the last comprises a control system to control movement of the first one, the second one, and the third one of the last members relative to one another and between the portions of the female mold. 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's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-7,12-18,23-27,57-58, and 60 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. USPN3698105 teach wrapping a last before molding an upper onto the last. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EDMUND H LEE whose telephone number is (571)272-1204. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 9AM-4PM. 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, Xiao (Sam) Zhao can be reached at 571-270-5343. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. EHL /EDMUND H LEE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1744
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 8 earlier events
Jun 20, 2024
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Nov 07, 2024
Response Filed
Dec 10, 2024
Final Rejection mailed — §112
May 12, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
May 15, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Dec 02, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Apr 02, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 17, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12697757
METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN INTERIOR COMPONENT FOR VEHICLES
2y 2m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Patent 12692350
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING POLYMER COMPONENTS USING A SLURRY
2y 2m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12686171
Improved Method and Kit for Three-Dimensional Printing
3y 11m to grant Granted Jul 21, 2026
Patent 12668022
THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING
3y 2m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12661844
INSERT FOR VACUUM FORMING
2y 3m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

7-8
Expected OA Rounds
69%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (+17.9%)
3y 0m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 1164 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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