Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 04, 2026
Application No. 18/218,573

AIRCRAFT HAND CONTROLS

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Jul 05, 2023
Priority
Jan 03, 2022 — provisional 63/296,155 +4 more
Examiner
JOHNSON, VICKY A
Art Unit
3617
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Avian Aerospace LLC
OA Round
5 (Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
6-7
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allowance Rate
878 granted / 1099 resolved
+27.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+12.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
14 currently pending
Career history
1122
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.6%
-39.4% vs TC avg
§103
17.4%
-22.6% vs TC avg
§102
49.8%
+9.8% vs TC avg
§112
31.8%
-8.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1099 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 11-13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hanlon et al (US2009/0039205). Hanlon et al disclose, aircraft brake hand controls, comprising: a left brake hand control (102) for exerting pressure on a right brake of an aircraft; a right brake hand control (104) for exerting pressure on a left brake of the aircraft; and a set of hydraulic master cylinders (106, 106) that convert the exerted pressure into hydraulic pressure. wherein the left brake hand control (102) and the right brake hand control (104) are independently operable from each other (see ¶38). Re claim 12, the set of hydraulic master cylinders (106, 106) plumb the hydraulic pressure into a hydraulic brake system of the aircraft. Re claim 13, the set of hydraulic master cylinders (106, 106) plumb the hydraulic pressure into a right hydraulic brake or a left hydraulic brake based on whether the exerted pressure comes from the left brake hand control or the right brake hand control. Response to Arguments Some further comments regarding the applicant’s remarks are deemed appropriate. The applicant argues the Harlon reference fails to meet the limitations of the claims because it fails to disclose, ”Hanlon's elements 102 and 104 correspond, at most, to pilot and co-pilot brake pedal interfaces, not to a left brake hand control and a right brake hand control that are independently operable from each other.” Harlon teaches in paragraph 38 the Harlon reference that controls 102 and 104 are hand controls for the brakes. Applicants’ remarks have been accorded due consideration, however they are not deemed fully persuasive. Conclusion THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicants are reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VICKY A JOHNSON whose telephone number is (571)272-7106. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday. 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, John R Olszewski can be reached at 571-272-2706. 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. /VICKY A JOHNSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3617
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 3 earlier events
Oct 08, 2024
Final Rejection mailed — §102
Apr 08, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Apr 09, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Jun 17, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Dec 17, 2025
Response Filed
Jan 28, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Jul 23, 2026
Response Filed
Sep 01, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

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

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Prosecution Projections

6-7
Expected OA Rounds
80%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+12.3%)
2y 4m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 1099 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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