Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 04, 2026
Application No. 18/242,830

ATOMIZATION DEVICE

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Sep 06, 2023
Priority
Sep 06, 2022 — CN 202222368192.4
Examiner
LEE JR, WOODY A
Art Unit
3761
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Shenzhen Relx Technology Co. Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
85%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 85% — above average
85%
Career Allowance Rate
566 granted / 669 resolved
+14.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +13% lift
Without
With
+12.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
36 currently pending
Career history
705
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.2%
-38.8% vs TC avg
§103
43.7%
+3.7% vs TC avg
§102
21.5%
-18.5% vs TC avg
§112
29.2%
-10.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 669 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 Election/Restrictions Claim 3 is withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected species, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 06/29/2026. Drawings The drawings are objected to because the drawings of Figs. 1, 8-12, 15 and 16 do not contain lines dark enough for adequate reproduction. 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 § 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) 1, 2, 9 and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated WO 2020/134766 to Qiu. Qiu teaches: Regarding claim 1 and 20 An atomization device comprising: a cartridge module (11, 12, 17) and components internal thereto) comprising a heating member (133), the heating member comprising a first pin (pin that passes through 1431) and a second pin (pin that passes through 1432); a battery module (222) comprising a first electrode post (2124) and a second electrode post (2123); and a connection module (including 15 and 16) detachably connected to the cartridge module and the battery module (Fig. 16), the connection module comprising a first conductive member (15) and a second conductive member (16), wherein the first conductive member comprises a first end and a second end (top and bottom of 15), the second conductive member comprises a first end and a second end (top and bottom of 16), the first end of the first conductive member is in contact with the first pin, the second end of the first conductive member is electrically connected to the first electrode, the first end of the second conductive member is in contact with the second pin, and the second end of the second conductive member is in contact with the second electrode (Fig. 7). Regarding claim 2 wherein the cartridge module further comprises a storage chamber (see open chamber of 11 in Fig. 7) and a sealing member (14) configured to seal the storage chamber (Fig. 7), and the first pin and the second pin are located on the sealing member In that 14 supports the heating coil from which the pins protrude). Regarding claim 4, wherein the connection module further comprises a bracket ( see bracket portion surrounding 2127) detachably sleeved on the sealing member (in that it sits annularly on top) and the first conductive member and the second conductive member are installed on the bracket (Fig. 7) Regarding claim 9 Wherein the battery comprises a power end facing the cartridge module (end of 222 facing cartridge module as shown in Fig. 16) and the first electrode and the second electrode are located on the power end (Fig. 16). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 5-8 and 10-19 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WOODY A LEE JR whose telephone number is (571)272-1051. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 0800-1630. 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, Edward "Ned" Landrum can be reached at 571-272-5567. 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. /WOODY A LEE JR/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3761
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 06, 2023
Application Filed
Sep 18, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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SCANNING RADIAL LASER PROCESSING WITH BI-CONICAL REFLECTION
3y 11m to grant Granted Sep 22, 2026
Patent 12734612
PROCESSING SYSTEM AND MEASUREMENT MEMBER
3y 11m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12739947
ELECTROTHERMAL FILM STRUCTURE, ELECTROTHERMAL FILM HEATING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTROTHERMAL FILM
3y 10m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
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Patent 12729354
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3y 5m to grant Granted Sep 08, 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
85%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+12.9%)
3y 0m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 669 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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