Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/072,341

SEAT MASSAGE SYSTEM AND VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Nov 30, 2022
Priority
Aug 16, 2022 — CN 202210981236.2
Examiner
RHEE, KELSEY
Art Unit
3785
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Faurecia (China) Holding Co. Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
28%
Grant Probability
At Risk
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
72%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants only 28% of cases
28%
Career Allowance Rate
7 granted / 25 resolved
-42.0% vs TC avg
Strong +44% interview lift
Without
With
+43.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 5m
Avg Prosecution
15 currently pending
Career history
53
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.2%
-37.8% vs TC avg
§103
83.9%
+43.9% vs TC avg
§102
4.3%
-35.7% vs TC avg
§112
8.6%
-31.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 25 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 . Priority Acknowledgement is made to Applicant's claim to priority to CN 202210981236 filed August 16, 2022. 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 1, 5-6, 10, and claims 2-4, 7-9, 11-15 by dependency, are 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 1 recites the limitation “at least one drive assembly” in line 3 and “a corresponding driving assembly” in line 5. It is unclear if “a corresponding driving assembly” is referring to one of the “at least one drive assembly” from line 3 or a new corresponding driving assembly. Claim 1 recites the limitation “at least one rail base” in line 6 and “a corresponding rail base” in line 9. It is unclear if “a corresponding rail base” is referring to one of the “at least one rail base” from line 6 or a new corresponding rail base. Claim 1 recites the limitation “at least one power delivery assembly” in line 4 and “a corresponding power delivery assembly” line 10. It is unclear if “a corresponding power delivery assembly” is intended to refer to one of the “at least one power delivery assembly” in line 4 or a new corresponding power delivery assembly. Claim 1 recites the limitation “a corresponding moving base” in line 13-14. It is unclear if this limitation is intended to refer to one of the “at least one moving base” introduced in line 9 or a new corresponding moving base. Claim 1 recites the limitation “a predetermined position thereof” in line 19-20. It is unclear what “thereof” is referring to in this limitation. Claim 5 recites the limitation “a corresponding massage head member” line 2-3. It is unclear if this limitation is intended to refer to the “at least one massage head member” in claim 1 line 13 or a new corresponding massage head member. Claim 6 recites the limitation “a corresponding fixing groove” line 3. It is unclear if this limitation is intended to refer to the fixing groove introduced in line 1 or a new corresponding fixing groove. Claim 10 recites the limitation “the at least one massage head member main body” in line 4-5. It is unclear if this limitation is intended to refer to “the at least one massage head member” in line 1-2, the “massage head member main body” in line 3, or a new “at least one massage head member main body” limitation. Claim 10 recites the limitation “a corresponding sliding groove” in line 9. It is unclear if this limitation is intended to refer to the “at least one sliding groove” in claim 9 line 1 or a new corresponding sliding groove. Allowable Subject Matter Claim 1, and dependents therein, would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Lim (US 20030018284 A1) discloses a massage device comprising a rail base (144; Fig. 3) and a moving base (142; Fig. 3) with a massage head member (130; Fig. 3) wherein rotation of the rail base causes the moving base to move linearly through coupling of a guide groove (143; Fig. 3) and a guide member (145a; Fig. 3). However, the square protrusion (147; Fig. 3) prevents rotation of the moving base itself and the linear movement is caused by rotation of the rail base. There was no teaching or motivation found in the prior art to modify Lim such that the power delivery assembly drives the moving base itself to rotate since such a modification would not be compatible with the mechanism of Lim which is driven by power delivery through a gear of the rail base. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Lee (KR 102348337 B1) discloses a massage system with a guide groove and guide member. Chen (US 20100179456 A1) discloses a massage system with a guide groove and guide member. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KELSEY RHEE whose telephone number is (703)756-5954. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST. 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, BRANDY LEE can be reached at (571) 270-7410. 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. /K.R./Examiner, Art Unit 3785 /BRANDY S LEE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3785
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 30, 2022
Application Filed
May 13, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

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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
28%
Grant Probability
72%
With Interview (+43.9%)
3y 5m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 25 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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