Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/028,343

BURIED PIPING REPLACEMENT PERIOD PREDICTION APPARATUS, BURIED PIPING REPLACEMENT PERIOD PREDICTION METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM

Non-Final OA

Filed

Mar 24, 2023

Priority

Sep 29, 2020 — JP 2020-162867 +1 more

Examiner

WATHEN, BRIAN W

Art Unit

Tech Center

Assignee

Kubota Corporation

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +15.9% interview lift. Examiner has a relatively high allowance rate (84%); +15.9% interview lift. A written response may suffice.

Based on 482 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

WATHEN, BRIAN W View full profile →

Grants 84% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

405 granted / 482 resolved

+24.0% vs TC avg

Strong +16% interview lift

Without

With

+15.9%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

2y 11m

Avg Prosecution

13 currently pending

Career history

491

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

8.4%

-31.6% vs TC avg

§103

58.1%

+18.1% vs TC avg

§102

6.7%

-33.3% vs TC avg

§112

10.2%

-29.8% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 482 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 24, 2023

Application Filed

May 20, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

17/970,043

Patent 12682134

PREDICTION PROGRAM, PREDICTION METHOD, AND PREDICTION DEVICE

3y 8m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

17/909,070

Patent 12670229

SOLUTION SYSTEM, SOLUTION METHOD, AND SOLUTION PROGRAM

3y 10m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026

17/978,377

Patent 12650769

SIMULATION METHOD AND MODELING METHOD

3y 7m to grant Granted Jun 09, 2026

17/777,952

Patent 12643293

Realization Method of an Orthopedic Support

4y 0m to grant Granted Jun 02, 2026

17/789,997

Patent 12639486

EQUIPMENT LAYOUT DESIGN SUPPORT DEVICE AND EQUIPMENT LAYOUT DESIGN SUPPORT METHOD

3y 11m to grant Granted May 26, 2026

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

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2

Expected OA Rounds

84%

Grant Probability

99%

With Interview (+15.9%)

2y 11m (~0m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 482 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.