Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 17, 2026
Application No. 17/956,837

Shockload Torque Protection Device with Electrical Control Function

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Sep 30, 2022
Examiner
FENWICK, WARREN K
Art Unit
2852
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Beijing Lixin Dehua Technology Co. Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
90%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 2m
To Grant
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 90% — above average
90%
Career Allow Rate
567 granted / 633 resolved
+21.6% vs TC avg
Minimal +0% lift
Without
With
+0.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 2m
Avg Prosecution
13 currently pending
Career history
646
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.1%
-37.9% vs TC avg
§103
33.0%
-7.0% vs TC avg
§102
33.8%
-6.2% vs TC avg
§112
13.9%
-26.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 633 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 09/30/2022 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the IDS is being considered by the examiner. Priority Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority based on an application filed in China on07/29/2022. It is noted, however, that applicant has not filed a certified copy of the Chinese application as required by 37 CFR 1.55. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U. S. C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Matsubara et al. (US 10088038 B2) hereafter referred to as “Matsubara”. PNG media_image1.png 614 788 media_image1.png Greyscale PNG media_image2.png 704 440 media_image2.png Greyscale PNG media_image3.png 640 462 media_image3.png Greyscale Regarding claim 1, Matsubara disclose a torque shock load device (lock-up clutch, Figure 5, element 32) (column 6, line 4) with a control function, comprising: a housing (1), wherein the housing (1) is provided with an installation passage (11) penetrating through the housing (1) and the right end of the housing (1) is provided with an end cover (12) (column 6, lines 57 – 64); a shaft connecting sleeve (2), wherein the shaft connecting sleeve (2) is movably nested on the right part of the installation passage (11) and the shaft connecting sleeve (2) movably penetrates through the end cover (12) (column 6, lines 57 – 64); pressing pieces (3) (friction plates, Figure 5, element 38) and friction plates (4), wherein the number of the pressing pieces (3) and the number of the friction plates (4) are multiple; a plurality of pressing pieces (3) are installed on the right part of the installation passage (11) through splines; a plurality of friction plates (4) are installed on the shaft connecting sleeve (2) through splines; and the plurality of friction plates (4) and the plurality of pressing pieces (3) are arranged alternately (column 6, lines 3 - 42); a connecting piece (5) (hub member, Figure 3, element 46), wherein the connecting piece (5) is installed on the left end of the housing (1) (column 6, lines 42 – 45); a detection mechanism (6), wherein the detection mechanism (6) is installed on the shaft connecting sleeve (2) (column 11, lines 22 – 24); and a main control machine (7) (electronic control unit, Figure 1, element 56), wherein the main control machine (7) is communicatively connected with the detection mechanism (6) (column 11, lines 5 – 26). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 2 - 10 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Regarding claim 2, and claims 3 and 10 which depend therefrom, the prior art made of record neither shows nor suggests the torque shock load device with the control function, wherein the connecting piece (5) comprises a connecting part (51), a flange (52) and a connecting column (53); the connecting column (53) is installed in the middle of the left side of the connecting part (51); the flange (52) is fixedly sleeved on the left end of the outer side of the connecting column (53); the connecting part (51) is nested in the left part of the installation passage (11); the middle of the connecting column (53) is provided with a connecting hole (54); and the right end of the connecting hole (54) extends to the right side wall of the connecting part (51). Regarding claim 4, and claims 5 - 7 which depend therefrom, the prior art made of record neither shows nor suggests the torque shock load device with the control function, wherein the detection mechanism (6) is located on the right side of the end cover (12); the detection mechanism (6) comprises a bearing pedestal (61), a torque temperature collection device (62) and a vibration quantity detection device (63); and the vibration quantity detection device (63) is installed on the right side of the bearing pedestal (61). Regarding claim 8, and claim 9 which depends therefrom, the prior art made of record neither shows nor suggests the torque shock load device with the control function, wherein the surface of the main control machine (7) is provided with a display screen (71) and a control button panel (72); a processor (74) and a third wireless communication module (75) are arranged inside the main control machine (7); the processor (74) is communicatively connected with the third wireless communication module (75); the output end of the processor (74) is electrically connected with the input end of the display screen (71); and the output end of the control button panel (72) is electrically connected with the input end of the processor (74). Contact Information Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WARREN K FENWICK whose telephone number is (571)270-3040. The examiner can normally be reached 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday. 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, Clayton E. LaBalle can be reached on 571-272-1594. 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. /Clayton E. LaBalle/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2852 WKF
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 30, 2022
Application Filed
Apr 05, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Dec 10, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
90%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (+0.2%)
2y 2m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 633 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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