Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/234,445

ABRASION RESISTANT COATING COMPOSITION FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE APPLICATION

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Aug 16, 2023
Examiner
COHEN, STEFANIE J
Art Unit
1732
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
75%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 10m
To Grant
78%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 75% — above average
75%
Career Allow Rate
719 granted / 954 resolved
+10.4% vs TC avg
Minimal +3% lift
Without
With
+2.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 10m
Avg Prosecution
25 currently pending
Career history
979
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.8%
-39.2% vs TC avg
§103
58.1%
+18.1% vs TC avg
§102
11.8%
-28.2% vs TC avg
§112
20.3%
-19.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 954 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 . Election/Restrictions Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I, claims 1-5, in the reply filed on 3/13/26 is acknowledged. Claims 6-10 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected inventions, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 3/13/26. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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. Claims 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Fang (WO2020232323) in view of Das et al (20110232522). Fang, abstract, teaches a coating composition for imparting a hydrophobic film on a target surface is provided that includes a quaternary ammonium silane salt, a solvent, and a solid lubricant. Fang, paragraph 28, teaches a particulate lubricant is applied as a colloidal dispersion in the solvent along with the salt. Although Fang teaches a coating composition for imparting a hydrophobic film, Fang does not teach the composition comprising a quaternary silicone polymer. Das teaches a composition for the treatment of a substrate. Das, abstract, teaches it has been found that hydrophobicity and stain-resistance can be imparted to a substrate by contacting the substrate with soap and a polyaluminum chloride in presence of water under specific range of pH, while the further addition of a quaternary silicone oil imparts oily soil repellence. Das, paragraph 40 of the PGPUB, teaches to further provide the repellence of oily soils and stains, the composition may further comprise a quaternary silicone oil, e.g. PDMS (poly dimethyl siloxane). This quaternary silicone oil may be present in the compositions in a concentration of less than 40% by weight. It 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 to incorporate a quaternary silicone oil as taught by Das into the coating composition as taught Fang to further provide the repellence of oily soils and stains. Regarding claim 2, Fang, paragraph 11, teaches the coating composition including a quaternary ammonium chloride silane. Regarding claim 3, Fang, paragraph 26, teaches the film-forming, quaternary ammonium silicone salt is present from 0.5 to 75 total weight percent, in other inventive embodiments, the salt is present from 5 to 60 total weight percent. Regarding claim 4, Das, paragraph 40 of the PGPUB, teaches this quaternary silicone oil may be present in the compositions in a concentration of less than 40% by weight. Regarding claim 5, Fang, paragraph 28, teaches a particulate lubricant is applied as a colloidal dispersion in the solvent along with the salt. Fang, paragraph 28, teaches a coating composition in solvated form is 1 to 10 total weight percent particulate lubricant. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US5302322 teaches a hair care composition. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STEFANIE J COHEN whose telephone number is (571)270-5836. The examiner can normally be reached 10am- 6pm M-F. 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, Coris Fung can be reached at (571) 270-5713. 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. /STEFANIE J COHEN/Examiner, Art Unit 1732 3/30/26
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 16, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 30, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §103 (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
75%
Grant Probability
78%
With Interview (+2.7%)
2y 10m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 954 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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