Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/286,622

CHUCK, CUTTING TOOL, AND ASSEMBLY

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Oct 12, 2023
Priority
Apr 13, 2021 — DE 10202109226.4 +2 more
Examiner
ADDISU, SARA
Art Unit
3722
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Kennametatal Inc.
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
85%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 85% — above average
85%
Career Allowance Rate
688 granted / 806 resolved
+15.4% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+10.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 10m
Avg Prosecution
18 currently pending
Career history
823
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
65.7%
+25.7% vs TC avg
§102
20.8%
-19.2% vs TC avg
§112
7.3%
-32.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 806 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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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 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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by DE 102014101122. Regarding claim 1, ‘122 discloses a chuck (16) for a cutting tool (12), which has a tool-receiving chamber/socket (20) in which a tool shaft (54) of the cutting tool can be clamped in a radial direction (via circumferential expansion wall 28 (see attached Espacenet English translation, paragraph 52, which recites “The circumferential extension wall 28 is extensible in the radial direction and can thus correspondingly reduce the diameter of the pressure chamber 30), a contact surface (end surface of chuck 16) for a mating contact surface (50) of the cutting tool (14) (figure 4), and a screw thread (24) designed so as to be coaxial with the tool-receiving socket (figure 3) and into which a mating screw thread (26) of the cutting tool can be screwed (figures 1-4 and see attached Espacenet English translation, paragraph 52) . Please note: as shown in figure 3, units 12, 14 and 26 (which is threaded: see English translation) are assembled, thus as a unit represent the tool, therefore the screw thread (portion 26) of the tool, is screwed into the screw thread (24). Regarding claim 2, ‘122 discloses that the contact surface is arranged on an end face of the chuck (16) (figure 4). Regarding claims 3 and 13, ‘122 discloses the screw thread (24) is arranged at the bottom of the tool-receiving socket (figure 1). Regarding claims 4, 5, and 14-17, ‘122 discloses that the chuck (16) is configured as an expansion chuck/ mechanically actuatable clamping elements (28) (figures 3 & 4, see attached Espacenet English translation, paragraph 52, which recites “The circumferential extension wall 28 is extensible in the radial direction and can thus correspondingly reduce the diameter of the pressure chamber 30) Regarding claim 6, ‘122 discloses a cutting tool, which has a tool shaft provided so as to be clamped in a tool-receiving socket (20) of a chuck (16) according to claim 1, a mating contact surface (50) provided so as to make contact with a contact surface (end surface) of a chuck (16) according to claim 1, and a mating screw thread (26) provided so as to be screwed into a screw thread (24) of a chuck according to claim 1 (figures 1-4). Regarding claims 7 and 12, ‘122 discloses the tool shaft has, at least in portions, a cylindrical outer surface (figure 3 and Espacenet English translation, paragraph 53). Regarding claims 8 and 18, ‘122 discloses the screw thread (26) is arranged at the end of the tool shaft (figure 3). Regarding claims 9, 19 and 20, ‘122 discloses the mating contact surface (50) is arranged between the tool shaft and a cutting portion (12) of the cutting tool (14) (figure 3). Regarding claim 10, ‘122 discloses an assembly (10) comprising: a chuck (16) for a cutting tool which has a tool-receiving socket (20) in which a tool shaft of the cutting tool can be clamped in a radial direction, a contact surface (end surface) for a mating contact surface of the cutting tool, and a screw thread (24) designed so as to be coaxial with the tool-receiving socket and into which a mating screw thread (26) of the cutting tool can be screwed (12); and a cutting tool which has a tool shaft provided so as to be clamped in a tool-receiving socket of the chuck (figures 3 and 4), a mating contact surface (50) provided so as to make contact with a contact surface of a chuck, and a mating screw thread (26) provided so as to be screwed into a screw thread (24) of the chuck; the mating screw thread (26) of the cutting tool is screwed into the screw thread (24) of the chuck (16), the mating contact surface (50) of the cutting tool is seated against the contact surface of the chuck (12), and the tool shaft is frictionally torque-transmittingly clamped in the tool-receiving socket (figures 1-4 and see attached Espacenet English translation, paragraphs 52). Regarding claim 10, ‘122 discloses the contact surface is arranged on an end face of the chuck (figures 3 and 4). Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 3/6/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. In response to Applicant’s argument that “DE 102014101122 does not teach or suggest a cutting tool having a screw thread let alone a addressed by the invention is cutting tool that screws into a screw thread that adjoins the bottom of the tool receiving socket”, Examiner points out as shown in figure 3, units 12, 14 and 26 (which is threaded: see English translation) are assembled, thus as a unit represent the tool, therefore the screw thread (portion 26) of the tool, is screwed into the screw thread (24) Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SARA ADDISU at (571) 272-6082. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (Mondays and Wednesday-Friday). If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Sunil K. Singh can be reached on (571) 272-3460. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /SARA ADDISU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3722 4/3/26
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 12, 2023
Application Filed
Oct 12, 2023
Response after Non-Final Action
Jan 15, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Mar 06, 2026
Response Filed
Apr 08, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102
Jun 22, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12673373
GRIPPING DEVICE FOR HOLDING, CENTRING AND/OR COLLET-CLAMPING A MICROMECHANICAL OR HOROLOGICAL COMPONENT
2y 10m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12649188
CUTTING HEAD HAVING ROTATIONALLY ASYMMETRIC COUPLING PIN, TOOL SHANK AND CUTTING TOOL
3y 2m to grant Granted Jun 09, 2026
Patent 12643163
Coolant turbine for rotary cutting tool; rotary cutting tool; coolant turbine module; and method for operating a rotary cutting tool
3y 8m to grant Granted Jun 02, 2026
Patent 12643155
TOOL HEAD IN HEAD REPLACEABLE CUTTING TOOL
3y 6m to grant Granted Jun 02, 2026
Patent 12636713
MODULAR HYDRAULIC CHUCK
2y 10m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
85%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+10.6%)
2y 10m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 806 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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