Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 06, 2026
Application No. 17/950,649

DETECTION DEVICE AND DETECTION SYSTEM FOR ACTIVATING AT LEAST ONE FUNCTION OF AN APPARATUS, AND APPARATUS COMPRISING THE DETECTION SYSTEM

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Sep 22, 2022
Priority
Sep 23, 2021 — EU 21198668.2
Examiner
WATSON, PETER HUCKLEBERRY
Art Unit
3675
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
U-Shin Italia S.p.A.
OA Round
5 (Non-Final)
55%
Grant Probability
Moderate
5-6
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
93%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 55% of resolved cases
55%
Career Allowance Rate
100 granted / 181 resolved
+3.2% vs TC avg
Strong +38% interview lift
Without
With
+37.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 2m
Avg Prosecution
41 currently pending
Career history
227
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
§103
45.3%
+5.3% vs TC avg
§102
28.5%
-11.5% vs TC avg
§112
24.7%
-15.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 181 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 . Response to Arguments The examiner agrees the amendments overcome the prior art however new claims have been introduced with 112 issues. 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 19-20 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 19 recites the limitation "the at least one detection device" in lines 2-3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Only one detection device was previously introduced. For the purposes of examination, the examiner is assuming the detection device previously introduced in claim 1 is the first detection device and a second detection device is being added. Additionally, “a first mounting area and a second mounting area” is unclear. It’s unclear the relationship between these elements and the “corresponding mounting area” of claim 1. It’s unclear if the two mounting areas include the corresponding mounting area of claim 1 or if two new separate mounting areas are being introduced. For the purposes of examination, the examiner is assuming the first area is the “corresponding mounting area” of claim 1. In regards to claim 20, the relationship between “a detection device” of claim 1 and the “two detection devices” of claim 20 are unclear. It’s unclear if the two detection devices include the detection device of claim 1 or if two separate detection devices are being introduced. Further its unclear the relation ship between the “corresponding mounting area” of claim 1 and the “a first mounting area and at a second mounting area” It’s unclear if the two mounting areas include the corresponding mounting area of claim 1 or if two new separate mounting areas are being introduced. For the purposes of examination, the detection device of claim 1 is assumed to be the first detection device of claim 20 and the “corresponding mounting area” is assumed to be the first mounting area” of claim 20. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1, 4-8 allowed. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art does not teach or fairly suggest the device as claimed in independent claim 1 of the instant application. The examiner can find no motivation to combine or modify the references of record without the use of impermissible hindsight. Regarding claims 1, the prior art of record, including Budzynski et al. (US 20030029210 A1) and Inoh (US 20160114526), teaches devices having much of the claimed structure, but fails to teach each and every limitation of the claims. Specifically, the prior art fails to teach “the first and second overmolded securing portions being formed with the activation part, wherein the first overmolded securing portion and the second overmolded securing portion are each an extension connected to the rest of the activation part and forming a cavity adapted to receive and locate the first bearing part and the second bearing part, respectively, the first bearing part comprising a first hole and the second bearing part comprising a second hole, the two extensions being separate and spaced apart”, in addition to the other claimed structure and functionality. One of ordinary skill in the art would not find it obvious to modify the structure and functionality of securing portions of the prior art to be configured and to function as claimed in the instant application without the use of hindsight and/or destroying the references. Therefore, the prior art does not disclose the device of claim 1. 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 Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PETER H WATSON whose telephone number is (571)272-5393. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9 - 5. 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, Christine M Mills can be reached at (571) 272-8322. 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. /PETER H WATSON/Examiner, Art Unit 3675
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 5 earlier events
Sep 19, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Oct 01, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 23, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jan 14, 2026
Response Filed
Mar 10, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jun 10, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Jun 17, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Jun 24, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12687047
DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM WITH A RAPID RELEASE MECHANISM
6y 8m to grant Granted Jul 21, 2026
Patent 12680343
DOOR LOCK WITH CLUTCH
7y 7m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12680345
CYLINDRICAL LOCK WITH MOTOR-DRIVEN LATCH
2y 1m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12680342
STATUS INDICATING LOCKSET TRIMS
1y 12m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12655656
DOOR STRIKE ASSEMBLY WITH A REVOLVING LATCH EJECTOR
2y 5m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
55%
Grant Probability
93%
With Interview (+37.8%)
3y 2m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 181 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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