Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/021,482

METHOD FOR REDUCING SULFUR-CONTAINING-COMPOUND CONTENT OF VOLATILE SUBSTANCES FROM FRIED FOOD

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Feb 15, 2023
Examiner
ZILBERING, ASSAF
Art Unit
1792
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
J-Oil Mills Inc.
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
33%
Grant Probability
At Risk
2-3
OA Rounds
4y 9m
To Grant
60%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants only 33% of cases
33%
Career Allow Rate
206 granted / 619 resolved
-31.7% vs TC avg
Strong +27% interview lift
Without
With
+27.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
4y 9m
Avg Prosecution
81 currently pending
Career history
700
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
§103
57.9%
+17.9% vs TC avg
§102
10.2%
-29.8% vs TC avg
§112
26.0%
-14.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 619 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 . DETAILED ACTION Status of Claims Note: The amendment of September 18th 2025 has been considered. Claims 1, 7 and 8 have been amended. Claim 6 was cancelled. Claims 1-5, 7 and 8 are pending and examined in the current application. Any rejections not recited below have been withdrawn. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 In view of the amendment filed on September 18th 2025, the rejection of claims 1-8 under 35 USC §103 has been withdrawn. However, upon further search and consideration, a new ground of rejection is made in view of Kawasaki et al., (CN101801204B) (see discussion, below). The text of those sections of Title 35 of the U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action. Claims 1-5, 7 and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kawasaki et al., (CN101801204B). Regarding claims 1-5, 7 and 8: Kawasaki discloses cooking food in roasted/burned oil (e.g., roasted rapeseed oil, roasted sesame oil) (see Kawasaki abstract; page 2, bottom paragraph to page 3 paragraph 7; page 4, 3rd paragraph from the bottom to page 5, paragraph 4). While Kawasaki fails to disclose the sulfur content of the oils and foods, given the fact Kawasaki discloses using roasted oil that is the similar to the oil recited in the claims, it is examiner’s position the reduction in sulfur-containing-compound of volatile compounds from fried foods would flow naturally from implementing the method of using roasted/burned cooking oil, as suggested in the prior art. As set forth in MPEP §2145, the fact that applicant has recognized another advantage which would flow naturally from following the suggestion of the prior art cannot be the basis for patentability when the differences would otherwise be obvious. See Ex parte Obiaya, 227 USPQ 58, 60 (Bd. Pat. App. & Inter. 1985). Response to Arguments In view of the amendment filed on September 18th 2025, the rejection of claims 1-8 under 35 USC §103 has been withdrawn. However, upon further search and consideration, a new ground of rejection is made in view of Kawasaki et al., (CN101801204B) (see discussion, above). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ASSAF ZILBERING whose telephone number is (571)270-3029. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 8:30-5:00. 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, Erik Kashnikow can be reached on (571) 270-3475. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /ASSAF ZILBERING/Examiner, Art Unit 1792
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 15, 2023
Application Filed
Jun 14, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Sep 18, 2025
Response Filed
Jan 18, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12599143
EMULSIFIED OIL AND FAT COMPOSITION
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12588688
METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN INGREDIENT COMPRISING A COMBINATION OF AT LEAST THREE MILK PROTEINS AND USE OF THE INGREDIENT OBTAINED
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 31, 2026
Patent 12582135
DHA Enriched Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Compositions
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12577593
DHA ENRICHED POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACID COMPOSITIONS
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Patent 12564198
METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SN-2 PALMITIC TRIACYLGLYCEROLS
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 03, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
33%
Grant Probability
60%
With Interview (+27.2%)
4y 9m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 619 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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