Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 04, 2026
Application No. 17/984,753

Touchless Dispensing And Communication For Machines

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Nov 10, 2022
Examiner
WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
Art Unit
3655
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Trinity Axis Inc.
OA Round
4 (Final)
72%
Grant Probability
Favorable
5-6
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
79%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 72% — above average
72%
Career Allowance Rate
994 granted / 1388 resolved
+19.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+7.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
38 currently pending
Career history
1407
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.7%
-38.3% vs TC avg
§103
54.0%
+14.0% vs TC avg
§102
19.8%
-20.2% vs TC avg
§112
10.8%
-29.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1388 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 Applicant's arguments filed 08/07/2026 with respect to the 112(a) rejection have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues that para 0018, 0056 and figure 12A, 12B demonstrate that applicant had possession of the claimed invention that the notification that no session is available comprises an advertisement. However, It is unreasonable to combine the featured associated with the establishment of a session with the features associated with an unsuccessful establishment of a session. Further, the language of claims 0018 and 0059 stating that the disclosure includes any combination of features disclosed, is not sufficient proof that applicant had possession of the claimed invention “generating a notification on the second electronic device that no additional session is available, wherein the notification comprises an advertisement” at the time of filing. For at least the foregoing reasons claims 1-20 stand rejected under 112(a). Applicant’s arguments, see remarks, filed 08/07/2026, with respect to the 103 rejections have been fully considered and are persuasive. The 103 rejections have been withdrawn. The combination of showing an advertisement in conjunction with a notification that a session is not available is not disclosed or taught by the present prior art of record. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a): (a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112: The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. Claims 1, 8, and 16 were amended to claim that the notification that no session is available comprises an advertisement. This limitation is considered new matter as neither the specification nor the drawings disclose that the notification that no session is available comprises an advertisement. There is support for ads in an established session (1206 figure 12B, para 0056) but this does not support that the notification that no session is available comprises an advertisement. The language of claims 0018 and 0059 stating that the disclosure includes any combination of features disclosed, is not sufficient proof that applicant had possession of the claimed invention “generating a notification on the second electronic device that no additional session is available, wherein the notification comprises an advertisement” at the time of filing. Conclusion THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TIMOTHY R WAGGONER whose telephone number is (571)272-8204. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thurs 5am-330pm. 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, Jacob Scott can be reached at 571-270-3415. 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. TIMOTHY R. WAGGONER Primary Examiner Art Unit 3655 B /TIMOTHY R WAGGONER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3655
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 1 earlier event
Jul 07, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Oct 07, 2025
Response Filed
Nov 20, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §112
Feb 16, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Mar 05, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
May 08, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Aug 07, 2026
Response Filed
Sep 11, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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Patent 12731454
SELF-SERVICE KIOSK HAVING A PROGRAMMED DUPLICATE KEY FOB DISPENSER
3y 0m to grant Granted Sep 08, 2026
Patent 12715689
CONTAINER HANDLING METHOD EMPLOYING DENSE STORAGE
4y 5m to grant Granted Aug 25, 2026
Patent 12715752
TOUCHLESS BEVERAGE DISPENSING
2y 3m to grant Granted Aug 25, 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
72%
Grant Probability
79%
With Interview (+7.7%)
2y 6m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 1388 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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