Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/238,452

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH EXTERNAL LOAD BAR, AND METHOD OF ITS USE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Aug 25, 2023
Examiner
ABRAMS, NEIL
Art Unit
2834
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Nsi-Lynn Electronics LLC
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 2m
To Grant
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allow Rate
805 granted / 976 resolved
+14.5% vs TC avg
Moderate +13% lift
Without
With
+12.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 2m
Avg Prosecution
11 currently pending
Career history
987
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
§103
81.3%
+41.3% vs TC avg
§102
2.5%
-37.5% vs TC avg
§112
5.2%
-34.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 976 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 . 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, the claims 1, 6, 12, “posts” located to support wires 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. Specification Applicant is reminded of the proper language and format for an abstract of the disclosure. The abstract should be in narrative form and generally limited to a single paragraph on a separate sheet within the range of 50 to 150 words in length. The abstract should describe the disclosure sufficiently to assist readers in deciding whether there is a need for consulting the full patent text for details. The language should be clear and concise and should not repeat information given in the title. It should avoid using phrases which can be implied, such as, “The disclosure concerns,” “The disclosure defined by this invention,” “The disclosure describes,” etc. In addition, the form and legal phraseology often used in patent claims, such as “means” and “said,” should be avoided. The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Specification, page 9, line 12 should read “groove 102”. Appropriate correction is required. Specification and drawings objected to, see specification page 9, lines 10-12 refers t’/NEIL ABRAMS/ o short posts” mounted to lateral ends (sides) the lower jaw 70. This feature and proper numeral should be added to specification and to drawings. Also, the specification paragraph 0023 disclosure that the posts located on lateral ends (sides) of jaw 70 to expends anvil surface 42 to support wires seem incorrect. Note figure 1, parts 70 42 are different structure one spaced below the other without the part 70 or posts forming such anvil. The drawings do not appear to show part 70 with posts on ends (sides) located to support wires to be sheared by blade 16. 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. Claims 1-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the enablement requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to enable one skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and/or use the invention. Claims 1, 6, 12, each list “two opposing posts… shearing tool” to support wires however the disclosure as noted above lacks clear and enabling teachings of how to make and use such item part 70 and posts arranged for wire shearing. Claims 1-17 define over prior art. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Neil Abrams whose telephone number is 571-272-2089. The examiner can normally be reached M-F from 8:30 am - 5:30 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 TC Patel can be reached a phone 571-272-2098. 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. /NEIL ABRAMS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 25, 2023
Application Filed
Oct 30, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Jan 20, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12580345
LOCKING MECHANISM FOR A HIGH-CURRENT ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Patent 12580333
FLAT CONDUCTOR ELECTRIC CONNECTOR
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Patent 12573800
Brush Module for a Rotary Table
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12567701
Connector
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 03, 2026
Patent 12555944
ELECTRIC CONNECTOR
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 17, 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
82%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+12.6%)
2y 2m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 976 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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