Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/285,972

3/2-WAY VALVE CONCEPT FOR A HYDRAULIC ACTUATION SYSTEM

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Oct 06, 2023
Priority
Apr 07, 2021 — DE 20 2021 105 880.3 +1 more
Examiner
TORRES WILLIAMS, MELANIE
Art Unit
3616
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Ipgate AG
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
85%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 85% — above average
85%
Career Allowance Rate
636 granted / 751 resolved
+32.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+11.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
33 currently pending
Career history
791
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
§103
53.6%
+13.6% vs TC avg
§102
33.2%
-6.8% vs TC avg
§112
8.0%
-32.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 751 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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, 15 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Burgdorf (US 5362140). Re claim 1, Burgdorf teaches a hydraulic actuation system for a hydraulic braking system, comprising: at least one hydraulic circuit (I, II) having at least one hydraulic consumer in the form of a hydraulically actuated wheel brake (31-34), and at least a first pressure generating device comprising a pump (66), in the at least one hydraulic circuit wherein the pressure-generating device is arranged to be selectively connected to or disconnected from a reservoir (20) by means of at least a first controlled 3/2-way valve (67). (Fig. 4) Burgdorf does not teach wherein the pressure generating device comprises a piston pump. Burgdurf teaches in Column 2, 2nd paragraph that “this invention will work no matter what kind of device – e.g., pumps or pistons – is used to effect a pressure build-up or to reduce the pressure …” It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the invention was made to use a piston pump in the invention as taught by Burgdorf since it is a well known device for increasing or decreasing pressure in a brake system. Re claim 15, Burgdorf as modified teaches wherein the pressure generating device is enabled to (66) can draw hydraulic medium into at least one working chamber from the reservoir (20) via at least one suction valve. See unnumbered valve between outlet of valve 67 and inlet of pump 66. Re claim 18, Burgdorf as modified teaches a brake system (Fig. 4) including the hydraulic actuation system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one hydraulic circuit (I, II) is coupled to at least one hydraulically acting wheel brake (31, 32). 4. Claim 16 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Burgdorf (US 5362140) in view of Lieber (US 2020/0114894 A1). Re claim 16, Burgdorf does not teach wherein the piston pump comprises a double-stroke piston wherein a pressure or a piston position is able to be adjusted or set by means of the double-stroke piston both in the forward stroke and in the return stroke. Lieber teaches wherein a piston pump (DE) comprises a double-stroke piston (1) wherein a pressure or a piston position is able to be adjusted or set by means of the double-stroke piston both in the forward stroke and in the return stroke. ([0140]) It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to provide the adjustable pump as taught by Lieber to provide additional pressure control. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 2-14 and 17 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 The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Pueschel teaches a hydraulic actuation system for a hydraulic braking system, comprising: at least one hydraulic circuit having at least one hydraulic consumer in the form of a hydraulically actuated wheel brake, and at least a first pressure generating device comprising a pump, in the at least one hydraulic circuit wherein the pressure-generating device is arranged to be selectively connected to or disconnected from a reservoir by means of at least a first controlled 3/2-way valve. Schmitt et al. and Solleder teach similar devices. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MELANIE TORRES WILLIAMS whose telephone number is (571)272-7127. The examiner can normally be reached Tuesday - Friday 7:00AM-3:00PM. 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, Robert Siconolfi can be reached at 571-272-7124. 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. /MELANIE TORRES WILLIAMS/ Primary Examiner Art Unit 3616 MTW March 27, 2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 06, 2023
Application Filed
Apr 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §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
85%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+11.4%)
2y 6m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 751 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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