Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 25, 2026
Application No. 18/291,461

Flexible Hose, in Particular a Vacuum Cleaner Hose, and Method for Producing Same

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Jan 23, 2024
Priority
Jul 29, 2021 — DE 10 2021 003 907.6 +1 more
Examiner
PATEL, HARSHAD C
Art Unit
2831
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Truplast Kunststofftechnik GmbH
OA Round
2 (Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allowance Rate
944 granted / 1139 resolved
+14.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +9% lift
Without
With
+8.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 10m
Avg Prosecution
30 currently pending
Career history
1171
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.4%
-39.6% vs TC avg
§103
41.8%
+1.8% vs TC avg
§102
38.4%
-1.6% vs TC avg
§112
13.3%
-26.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1139 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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of the second paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112: 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, second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which applicant regards as the invention. It seems that independent claim 1 recites only a Preamble because the current form of claim 1 does not show clear distinction between the preamble and a body of the claim, therefore it is not clear what the claimed invention is. Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed on 8/27/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. As the applicant has not made any amendment in claim to specify the preamble and body of the claim in recent amendment. Therefore, as best understood, all claims are rejected as discussed in previous office action mailed on 3/4/2026. Conclusion THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 HARSHAD C PATEL whose telephone number is (571)272-8289. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday: 8:00 am - 5.00 pm (EST). 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, Abdullah A Riyami can be reached at 571-270 3119. 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. /HARSHAD C PATEL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 23, 2024
Application Filed
Mar 04, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Aug 27, 2026
Response Filed
Sep 22, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12771063
LATCH AND CONNECTOR
2y 10m to grant Granted Oct 20, 2026
Patent 12771080
CONNECTOR FOR CONNECTING NEGATIVE TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT THERMISTOR
2y 7m to grant Granted Oct 20, 2026
Patent 12771054
POWER CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY
2y 6m to grant Granted Oct 20, 2026
Patent 12771052
ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME
2y 6m to grant Granted Oct 20, 2026
Patent 12763565
CONNECTOR COVER ASSEMBLIES
3y 4m to grant Granted Oct 13, 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
83%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+8.6%)
1y 10m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1139 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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