Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 14, 2026
Application No. 18/278,341

FLAT TEXTILE MATERIAL HAVING INTEGRATED POCKETS FOR RECEIVING ELECTRICAL AND/OR ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FOR MEDICAL MEASUREMENT AND/OR CONTROL PURPOSES

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Aug 22, 2023
Priority
Feb 24, 2021 — DE 10 2021 104 437.5 +1 more
Examiner
PATEL, TAJASH D
Art Unit
3732
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Kob GmbH
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
88%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allowance Rate
1283 granted / 1589 resolved
+10.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+7.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
17 currently pending
Career history
1617
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.9%
-38.1% vs TC avg
§103
47.0%
+7.0% vs TC avg
§102
12.2%
-27.8% vs TC avg
§112
25.8%
-14.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1589 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION 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 In response to the reply filed on April 24, 2026 the restriction requirement as set forth in the Office action mailed on February 26, 2026 for Group II pertaining to claim 19 is hereby withdrawn. Currently, claims 1-20 are pending as per preliminary amendment filed on August 22, 2023. Specification This application does not contain an abstract of the disclosure as required by 37 CFR 1.72(b). An abstract on a separate sheet is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. In claim 1, on lines 21-23; in claim 18, on lines 24-25 and in claim 19, on lines 29-31, each occurrence of “at least one flexible conductor …arranged floating at least in sections is provided between the first pocket layer and the second pocket layer in the thickness direction” is indefinite since it is unclear if the at least one flexible conductor is closer to either the first pocket layer or the second pocket layer? Furthermore, in claims 1 and 18-19 “arranged floating in sections” is indefinite since it is unclear to what extent the at one flexible electrical conductor passes between the first and second pocket layers of at least one pocket and/or relative to the flat textile material not having the at least one pocket? Correction is required. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. Claims 1, 18 and 20 with its respective dependents are allowable because the prior does not teach of suggest the recitation therein including a flat holding textile material having at least one pocket with an electronic component that has at least one flexible electrical conductor that is positioned with the at least one pocket in a floating manner and substantially adjacent to one of the first and second pocket layers in order to form a reliable connection for the electronic component over a larger connection area. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Each of the prior art references cited on PTO-892 discloses a textile material having at least one flexible electrical conductor attached thereto. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TEJASH PATEL whose telephone number is (571)272-4993. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 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, Clinton Ostrup can be reached at (571) 272-5559. 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. July 15, 2026 /TAJASH D PATEL/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3732
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 22, 2023
Application Filed
Jul 21, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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WRAP-AROUND, IMPACT FORCE ABSORBING, PADDED, HEAD-IMPACT PROTECTING HEADBAND AND HELMET LINER
1y 10m to grant Granted Jul 21, 2026
Patent 12685362
ATTACHMENT FEATURES FOR BATTING HELMETS
1y 5m to grant Granted Jul 21, 2026
Patent 12667146
NITRILE GLOVE
3y 5m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12667145
LAMINATED GLOVE, DEVICE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME
2y 12m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12660873
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CUSTOMIZING POCKETS
2y 1m to grant Granted Jun 23, 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
81%
Grant Probability
88%
With Interview (+7.4%)
2y 4m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1589 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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