Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 18/268,330

HAIRCARE APPLIANCE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jun 20, 2023
Priority
Dec 23, 2020 — GB 2020487.1 +1 more
Examiner
YUEN, JESSICA JIPING
Art Unit
3762
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Dyson Technology Limited
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
60%
Grant Probability
Moderate
3-4
OA Rounds
2m
Est. Remaining
82%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 60% of resolved cases
60%
Career Allowance Rate
678 granted / 1126 resolved
-9.8% vs TC avg
Strong +22% interview lift
Without
With
+21.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 5m
Avg Prosecution
33 currently pending
Career history
1151
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.9%
-39.1% vs TC avg
§103
49.7%
+9.7% vs TC avg
§102
18.1%
-21.9% vs TC avg
§112
27.5%
-12.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1126 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 . 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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 8/3/2026 has been entered. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d): (d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers. The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph: Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers. Claims 4-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Claims 4-6 recite a switching arrangement configured to move the moveable member between the extended position and the retracted position which failed to further limit the subject matter of the moveable member is moveable between the retracted position and the extended position in response to airflow from the airflow generator is use recited in claim 1. Claim 7 recites the moveable member is configured to move between he extended position and the retracted position in response to a force applied by a user to the moveable member which failed to further limit the subject matter of the moveable member is moveable between the retracted position and the extended position in response to airflow from the airflow generator is use recited in claim 1. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-2, 8-22 are allowed. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Chen (CN 101257816) discloses an air diffuser for hair styling with moveable members that is moveable between the retracted position and the extended position (Figs. 3, 3A). Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JESSICA J YUEN whose telephone number is (571)272-4878. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. 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, MICHAEL G HOANG can be reached at (571) 272-6460. 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. /Jessica Yuen/ Primary Examiner Art Unit 3762 JY
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 20, 2023
Application Filed
Jan 27, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Apr 27, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 03, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112
Aug 03, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Aug 21, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Aug 25, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 22, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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Patent 12742595
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4y 6m to grant Granted Sep 22, 2026
Patent 12742281
CLOTHES DRYER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME
3y 10m to grant Granted Sep 22, 2026
Patent 12741773
DEHUMIDIFICATION DEVICE OF PACKAGE THERMAL-SHRINKING OVEN
3y 0m to grant Granted Sep 22, 2026
Patent 12729911
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3y 10m 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

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
60%
Grant Probability
82%
With Interview (+21.6%)
3y 5m (~2m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 1126 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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