Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 17, 2026
Application No. 18/214,550

Adjustable massage structure and massage backpack

Non-Final OA §103§112
Filed
Jun 27, 2023
Examiner
VANTERPOOL, LESTER L
Art Unit
3734
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
unknown
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
54%
Grant Probability
Moderate
3-4
OA Rounds
2y 11m
To Grant
43%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 54% of resolved cases
54%
Career Allow Rate
540 granted / 990 resolved
-15.5% vs TC avg
Minimal -11% lift
Without
With
+-11.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
19 currently pending
Career history
1009
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
51.9%
+11.9% vs TC avg
§102
22.0%
-18.0% vs TC avg
§112
19.7%
-20.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 990 resolved cases

Office Action

§103 §112
DETAILED ACTION This Non-Final Office Action is in response to the amendment and / or remarks filed on February 09, 2026. Claims 1 – 20 are pending and currently being examined. 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 . Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114 A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on February 09, 2026 has been entered. Drawings The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, (“wherein the detachable accessories are selected from the group comprising the track (612), webbing (1600), rope (1500), slots (612), power stickers (??), magnets (??), and buttons (1702)” as recited in Claim 16, lines 11 & 12) must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance. The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, (“a blocking system (1800 & 1802) comprising a rod (??)” as recited in Claim 20, line 3) must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance. 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. Claim 20 is 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. Claim 20, line 3 recites: “via a blocking system comprising a rod and slot,”. The Specification filed on June 27, 2023, paragraph 036 on page 11 recites: “Figure 18 depicts an example of a slot with a blocking system (1800, 1802) that prevents accessories from being taken off unless the blocking system is released.” The Specification filed on June 27, 2023 does NOT disclose, define, describe and / or identify “a rod”. Therefore, the structural limitations as set forth in Claims 20, line 3 raises new matter situations. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. Claim(s) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over (U.S. Patent Number 6,626,342 B1) to Gleason in view of (China Number CN 209630122 U) to Chen and (U.S. Patent Number 10,561,225 B2) to Parekh. Regarding claim 1, Gleason discloses the apparatus system with a convenient manufacturing and removable structure, comprising: the body (10) with the first back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (14) in Figure 2) and the second massage back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (12) in Figures 1 & 2), wherein the second massage back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (12) in Figures 1 & 2) is removable and attachable (i.e. via (60 & 89) in Figures 1, 2 & 4) to the first back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (14) in Figure 2), wherein the second massage back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (12) in Figures 1 & 2) has the first inner layer (i.e. 1st Inner Front Panel Layer/surface of (20) in Figure 3), the second inner layer (i.e. 2nd Inner Rear Panel Layer/surface of (24) in Figure 2), the first outer layer (i.e. 1st Outer Front Layer/surface (24) in Figure 2) and the second outer layer (i.e. 2nd Outer Rear Layer/surface (20) in Figure 3) (See Figures 1, 2 & 3), wherein the first outer layer (i.e. 1st Outer Front Layer/surface (24) in Figure 2) is configured to communicate with a user’s back, the second outer layer (i.e. 2nd Outer Rear Layer/surface (20) in Figure 3) is configured to attach to the first back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (14) in Figure 2) by at least the pair of detachable accessories (i.e. via (60 & 89) in Figures 1, 2 & 4), wherein the second massage back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (12) in Figures 1 & 2) is flexible, wherein between the first inner layer (i.e. 1st Inner Front Panel Layer/surface of (20) in Figure 3) and the second inner layer (i.e. 2nd Inner Rear Panel Layer/surface of (24) in Figure 2) there is at least one layer of foam (54) (See Column 4, lines 27 – 31) (See Figure 3). However, Gleason does not explicitly disclose the massaging apparatus system wherein the second massage back panel has at least one massage head. Chen teaches wherein the second massage back panel (1) has at least one massage head (i.e. (17) within (9) in Figures 2, 4, 5 & 6) for massage performance. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the invention was effectively filed to make the second massage back panel has at least one massage head as taught by Chen with the apparatus system of Gleason because the motivation only requires a simple substitution one known apparatus system configuration for another to obtain predictable results. However, Gleason does not explicitly disclose the massaging apparatus system wherein the control circuit having at least one cable connects to the at least one massage head. Parekh teaches the massaging apparatus system (1000) wherein the control circuit (400) having at least one cable (See Figure 6) connects to the at least one massage head (210 & 310) (See Column 7, lines 48 – 55) (See Figure 6). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was effectively filed to make the massaging apparatus system wherein the control circuit having at least one cable connects to the at least one massage head as taught by Parekh with the apparatus system of Gleason in order to provide regulating the speed or intensity of the massaging units. Regarding claim 2, Gleason discloses wherein the detachable accessories (i.e. via (60 & 89) in Figures 1, 2 & 4) are selected from the group consisting of track, buckles, hook and loop, webbing, rope, straps, slots, power stickers, magnets, buttons, zippers (See Figures 2, 4 & 5). Regarding claim 3, Gleason discloses wherein the detachable accessories (i.e. via (60 & 89) in Figures 1, 2 & 4) are flexible to achieve the effect that the user can fit the second massage back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (12) in Figures 1, 4 & 5) very closely to their own body. Regarding claim 4, Gleason discloses wherein the flexible material (50) is stored between the first inner layer (i.e. 1st Inner Front Panel Layer of (20) in Figure 3) and the second inner layer (i.e. 2nd Inner Rear Panel Layer of (24) in Figure 2) of the second massage back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (12) in Figures 1 & 2). In addition, Gleason as modified by Parekh discloses the control circuit (400) (See Figure 6). Regarding claim 5, Gleason discloses the second massage back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (12) in Figures 1, 4 & 5) further comprising the shoulder strap (i.e. Left & Right (61, 62 & 63) in Figure 2) (See Figures 1 & 2). Regarding claim 6, Gleason as modified by Parekh discloses further comprising the function control board (500) in communication with the control circuit (400) (See Figure 6). Regarding claim 7, Gleason as modified by Parekh discloses wherein the function control board (500) is connected to the control circuit (400) by the cable (See Figure 6). Regarding claim 9, Gleason as modified by Parekh discloses wherein the control circuit (400) is settled on the shoulder strap (320) (See Figure 6). However, Gleason as modified by Parekh does not explicitly disclose the function control board (500) settled on the shoulder strap (320) (See Figure 6). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was effectively filed to make the function control board (500) settled on the shoulder strap (320), since it has been held that re-arranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70. Regarding claim 10, Gleason discloses wherein the flexible material (50) (i.e. Flexible Plastic) (See Column 4, lines 9 – 13) (See Figure 3). However, Gleason does not explicitly disclose selected from the group consisting of metal, elastic fabric, foamy material, neoprene, rubber, silica, leather, leatherette, synthetic. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was effectively filed to make the flexible material selected from the group consisting of metal, elastic fabric, foamy material, neoprene, rubber, silica, leather, leatherette, synthetic, since it has been held to be within the general skill of a worker in the art to select a known material on the basis of its suitability for the intended use as a matter of obvious design choice. In re Leshin, 125 USPQ 416. Regarding claim 11, Gleason discloses further comprising the pair of accessories (92) (i.e. Water Bottles) that have the blocking system (i.e. Zippers and / or other Fastening Means of (88)), wherein the blocking system (i.e. Zippers and / or other Fastening Means of (88)) prevents the accessories (92) (i.e. Water Bottles) from being taken off unless the blocking system (i.e. Zippers and / or other Fastening Means of (88)) is released (See Column 5, lines 43 – 50). Regarding claim 12, Gleason discloses wherein the first back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (14) in Figure 2) has more accessories (i.e. via (135, 136, 142 & 144) in Figures 1, 2 & 4) for the second massage back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (12) in Figures 1 & 2) to attach to and configured for users to select the most suitable position (See Column 6, lines 65 – 67) & (See Column 7, lines 1 – 13). In addition, Gleason as modified by Chen discloses the second massage back panel (1) for massaging. Regarding claim 13, Gleason as modified by Chen discloses further comprising the foam material (12) with the thickness (See Figure 3) and attached between the first inner layer (11) and the massage head (17) (See Figures 3, 4, 5 & 6). However, Gleason as modified by Chen does not explicitly disclose at least 1mm. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was effectively filed to make the thickness of at least 1mm, since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only routine skill in the art. In re Aller, 105 USPQ 233. Regarding claim 14, Gleason as modified by Chen discloses further comprising the foam material (i.e. Sponge (12) in Figure 3) with the thickness attached between the massage apparatus (9) and the massage head (17). However, Gleason as modified by Chen does not explicitly disclose at least 1mm. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was effectively filed to make the thickness of at least 1mm, since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only routine skill in the art. In re Aller, 105 USPQ 233. Regarding claim 15, Gleason discloses the first back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (14) in Figure 2) is flexible to achieve the effect that the user can fit the body (10) very closely to their own body. Claim(s) 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over (U.S. Patent Number 6,626,342 B1) to Gleason, (China Number CN 209630122 U) to Chen and (U.S. Patent Number 10,561,225 B2) to Parekh as applied to claim 3 above, and further in view of (U.S. Patent Publication Number 2015 / 0089903 A1) to Carey. Regarding claim 8, Gleason as modified by Parekh discloses wherein the function control board (500) is on the body (100) (See Figure 6). However, Gleason as modified by above does not explicitly disclose fixed on the body with the rigid material base to keep it firmly in place. Carey teaches the function control board (8) is fixed on the body (1) with the rigid material base (7) to keep it firmly in place (See Figure 1). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was effectively filed to make the control board fixed on the body with the rigid material base to keep it firmly in place as taught by Carey with the apparatus system of Gleason because the motivation only requires a simple substitution of one known equivalent bag configuration for another to obtain predictable results. Claim(s) 16, 17, 18 & 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over (U.S. Patent Number 6,626,342 B1) to Gleason in view of (U.S. Patent Publication Number 2017 / 0231370 A1) to Crimaldi et al., (China Number CN 209630122 U) to Chen and (U.S. Patent Number 10,561,225 B2) to Parekh. Regarding claim 16, Gleason discloses the massaging apparatus system, comprising, the body (10) including the first back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (14) in Figure 2) and the second massage back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (12) in Figures 1 & 2) removably attachable to the first back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (14) in Figure 2), the second massage back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (12) in Figures 1 & 2) including: the first inner layer (i.e. 1st Inner Front Panel Layer of (20) in Figure 3); the second inner layer (i.e. 2nd Inner Rear Panel Layer of (24) in Figure 3); at least one layer of flexible material (50) (See Column 4, lines 9 – 13) (See Figures 3 & 4) disposed between the first inner layer (i.e. 1st Inner Front Panel Layer of (20) in Figure 3) and the second inner layer (i.e. 2nd Inner Rear Panel Layer of (24) in Figure 2); the first outer layer (i.e. 1st Outer Front Layer (24) in Figure 2) configured for contact with an associated user; and the second outer layer (i.e. 2nd Outer Rear Layer (20) in Figure 3) attached to the first back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (14) in Figure 2) by at least the pair of detachable accessories (i.e. via hook & loop fasteners / VELCRO™ (60 & 89) in Figures 1, 2 & 4) (See Column 7, lines 28 – 38). However, Gleason does not explicitly disclose selected from the group comprising the track, webbing, rope, slots, power stickers, magnets, and buttons. Crimaldi et al., teaches wherein the detachable accessories are magnets (See Paragraph 0028). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was effectively filed to make the magnets as taught by Crimaldi with the apparatus system of Gleason in order to provide quick and reliable active mounting system connection and release between the bag and the harness (See Paragraph 0028). However, Gleason lacks and does not explicitly teach at least one massage head disposed on the second inner layer. Chen teaches at least one massage head (i.e. (17) within (9) in Figures 2, 4, 5 & 6) disposed on the second inner layer (13) (i.e. Electric Heating Layer) (See Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was effectively filed to make at least one massage head disposed on the second inner layer as taught by Chen with the apparatus of Gleason because the motivation only requires a simple substitution of one known apparatus system configuration for another to obtain predictable results. However, Gleason lacks and does not explicitly disclose the control circuit connected to the at least one massage head via the cable. Parekh teaches the control circuit (400) connected to the at least one massage head (210 & 310) via the cable (See Figure 6). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was effectively filed to make the control circuit connected to the at least one massage head via the cable as taught by Parekh with the apparatus of Gleason in order to provide regulating the speed or intensity of the massaging units. Regarding claim 17, Gleason discloses the cavity (22) disposed between the first inner layer (1st Inner Front Panel Layer of (20) in Figure 3) and the second inner layer (i.e. 2nd Inner Rear Panel Layer of (24) in Figure 2) of the second massage back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (12) in Figures 1 & 2). Furthermore, Gleason as modified by Parekh discloses the control circuit (400) disposed between the layers of (320) (See Figures 1 & 6). Regarding claim 18, Gleason as modified Parekh discloses further comprising the function control board (500) disposed on the first layer (100) in communication with the control circuit (400) (See Figure 6). However, Gleason as modified by Parekh does not explicitly disclose outer layer. It would have been to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was effectively filed to make the function control board disposed on the first outer layer, since it has been held that re-arranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70. Regarding claim 19, Gleason discloses further comprising the pair of accessories (92) (i.e. Water Bottles) that have the blocking system (i.e. Zippers and / or other Fastening Means of (88)) configured to prevent the accessories (92) (i.e. Water Bottles) from being detached (See Column 5, lines 43 – 48) (See Figure 2). Claim(s) 20 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over (U.S. Patent Number 6,626,342 B1) to Gleason in view of (U.S. Patent Number 5,732,867) to Perkins et al., (China Number CN 209630122 U) to Chen and (U.S. Patent Number 10,561,225 B2) to Parekh. Regarding claim 20, Gleason discloses the apparatus system, comprising, the body (10) including the first back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (14) in Figure 2) and the second back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (12) in Figures 1 & 2) removably attachable {i.e. via (60 & 89) & (135, 136, 142 & 144) in Figures 1, 2 & 4} to the first back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (14) in Figure 2), the second massage back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (12) in Figures 1 & 2) including: the first inner layer (i.e. Inner Front Panel Layer of (20) in Figure 3); the second inner layer (i.e. 2nd Inner Rear Panel Layer of (24) in Figure 2); the first outer layer (i.e. 1st Outer Front Layer (24) in Figure 2) configured for contact with an associated user; and the second outer layer (i.e. 2nd Outer Rear Layer of (20) in Figure 3) attached to the first back panel (i.e. Back Panel of (14) in Figure 2) by at least the pair of accessories (i.e. via (60 & 89) & (135, 136, 142 & 144) in Figures 1, 2 & 4). However, Gleason lacks and does not explicitly disclose via the blocking system comprising the rod and slot. Perkins et al., teaches the blocking system (See Figure 2) comprising the rod (22) and slot (24) (See Figures 1 & 2). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was effectively filed to make the blocking system comprising the rod and slot as taught by Perkins et al., with the apparatus system of Gleason for the purpose of providing quick and reliable latching. However, Gleason lacks and does not explicitly disclose at least one massage head disposed on the second inner layer. Chen teaches at least one massage head (i.e. (17) within (9) in Figures 2, 4, 5 & 6) disposed on the second inner layer. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the invention was effectively filed to make at least one massage head disposed on the second inner layer as taught by Chen with the apparatus system of Gleason because the motivation only requires a simple substitution one known apparatus system configuration for another to obtain predictable results. However, Gleason lacks and does not explicitly disclose the control circuit connected to the at least one massage head via the cable. Parekh teaches the control circuit (400) to the at least one massage head (210 & 310) via the cable (i.e. See Column 7, lines 48 – 55) (See Figure 6). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the invention was effectively filed to make the control circuit connected to the at least one massage head via the cable as taught by Parekh with the apparatus system of Gleason in order to provide regulating the speed or intensity of the massaging units. Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments regarding Claims 1 & 16 filed June 24, 2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues, Gleason ‘342 does not disclose the frame section (50) is made from plastic, and not from foam. Examiner disagrees, in response to applicant’s argument that there is no teaching, suggestion, or motivation to combine the references, the examiner recognizes that obviousness may be established by combining or modifying the teachings of the prior art to produce the claimed invention where there is some teaching, suggestion, or motivation to do so found either in the references themselves or in the knowledge generally available to one of ordinary skill in the art. See In re Fine, 837 F.2d 1071, 5 USPQ2d 1596 (Fed. Cir. 1988), In re Jones, 958 F.2d 347, 21 USPQ2d 1941 (Fed. Cir. 1992), and KSR International Co. v. Teleflex, Inc., 550 U.S. 398, 82 USPQ2d 1385 (2007). In this case, Gleason ‘342 indeed teaches the first inner layer (i.e. 1st Inner Front Panel Layer/surface of (20) in Figure 3) and the second inner layer (i.e. 2nd Inner Rear Panel Layer/surface of (24) in Figure 2) there is at least one layer of foam (54) (See Column 4, lines 27 – 31) (See Figure 3). Furthermore, given the broadest reasonable interpretation, Gleason ‘342 meets and satisfies the structural limitations as set forth in Claim 1. Therefore, the §103 rejection is maintained. Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 16 & 20 have been considered but are moot in view of the new grounds of rejection. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. (U.S. Patent Number 11,363,877 B2) to Wright et al., teaches wherein the detachable accessories (226A, 226B, 226C, 226D) (i.e. Male and / or Female Snaps, Hooks and / or Loops, and / or the like) (See Column 5, lines 33, 34 & 35) (See Figure 2). Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LESTER L VANTERPOOL whose telephone number is (571)272-8028. The examiner can normally be reached 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, Nathan J. Newhouse can be reached on 571-272-4544. 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. /L.L.V/Examiner, Art Unit 3734 /NATHAN J NEWHOUSE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3734
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Prosecution Timeline

Jun 27, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 18, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103, §112
Jun 24, 2025
Response Filed
Oct 04, 2025
Final Rejection — §103, §112
Jan 08, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 09, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Feb 28, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Mar 12, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §103, §112 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
54%
Grant Probability
43%
With Interview (-11.2%)
2y 11m
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 990 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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