Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 04, 2026
Application No. 18/134,303

GRIPPING ASSEMBLY

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Apr 13, 2023
Priority
Apr 14, 2022 — IT 102022000007553
Examiner
MARSH, STEVEN M
Art Unit
3632
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
F Lli Righini S R L
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
79%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 79% — above average
79%
Career Allowance Rate
1243 granted / 1566 resolved
+27.4% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+7.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 2m
Avg Prosecution
31 currently pending
Career history
1597
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
§103
35.2%
-4.8% vs TC avg
§102
35.9%
-4.1% vs TC avg
§112
27.6%
-12.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1566 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION This is the first office action for US Application 18/134,303 for a Gripping Assembly. 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. 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 appl icant regards as his invention. Claims 1-10 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 "the grasping means" in line 7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 4 recites the limitation "the top" in 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 4 recites the limitation "the bottom" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 4 recites the limitation "the direction of said longitudinal axis" in lines 12 and 13. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 4 recites the limitation "the distance between said first face (FP1) and said second face " in lines 13 and 14 . There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Allowable Subject Matter Claim 1 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. Claims 2-10 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art does not disclose or suggest a gripping assembly for a pile provided by a longitudinal end having a given shape, internally limited by a first shell and externally by a second shell. The assembly comprising a frame with a central portion shaped to support a plurality of linear actuators about a central axis, each actuator provided with a stem carried by the central portion having a radial orientation, and with an armature axially coupled to the stem that terminates with a free end that carries a grasping means designed to radially couple with at least one of the first shell and the second shell, wherein the frame has a plurality of arms carried radially by the central portion in a rigid manner, each arm provided with a radial guide to which the grasping means are coupled in a freely slidable manner . Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 1593665 to Moores US 2008/0203246 to Ingram US 2014/0262526 to Stankovic US 2010/0139844 to Lundell US 3395815 to Johnson US 2642307 to Olson WO 2021074834 to Aime DE 9301505 to Rein DE 102013102583 to Hartmann WO 2023025496 to Van Werven The above prior art discloses various gripping assemblies. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT STEVEN M MARSH whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-6819 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT Mon-Thurs 9 am-7:30 pm . 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, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Terrell McKinnon can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT 571-272-4797 . 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. FILLIN "Examiner Stamp" \* MERGEFORMAT STEVEN M. MARSH Primary Examiner Art Unit 3632 /STEVEN M MARSH/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3632
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Prosecution Timeline

Apr 13, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 25, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12611051
DOOR PANEL FOR A MERCHANDISER
2y 3m to grant Granted Apr 28, 2026
Patent 12612981
Clamp Assembly and Pipe Fixing Device Assembly
2y 1m to grant Granted Apr 28, 2026
Patent 12607432
HOLSTER FOR CONDUCTED ENERGY DEVICE WITH CONTROL ACCESS
1y 11m to grant Granted Apr 21, 2026
Patent 12606098
VEHICLE-MOUNTED VOICE REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE
1y 10m to grant Granted Apr 21, 2026
Patent 12605612
MODULAR SUPPORT AND STORAGE ASSEMBLY
1y 8m to grant Granted Apr 21, 2026
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
79%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (+7.4%)
2y 2m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1566 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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