Prosecution Insights
Last updated: September 17, 2026
Application No. 18/343,666

SCENTED WAX WARMER

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jun 28, 2023
Examiner
TEKA, ABIY
Art Unit
3745
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
B&B Acquisition Inc. Dba Candle Warmers Etc
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
85%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 85% — above average
85%
Career Allowance Rate
589 granted / 694 resolved
+14.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+10.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
25 currently pending
Career history
719
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.2%
-38.8% vs TC avg
§103
34.9%
-5.1% vs TC avg
§102
35.1%
-4.9% vs TC avg
§112
27.4%
-12.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 694 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 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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1, 10 and 19 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kang (US 2018/0156434) hereinafter KANG. Regarding Claim 1 KANG teaches a wax (100) warmer device configured to warm a scented wax (100) (candle), the device comprising: a base (10) having a plate with an annular lip (Fig 2 the slanted perimeter) circumscribing the plate (Fig 1-2) and a bowl (10g)extending from the plate and the annular lip (Fig 2 the slanted perimeter), the bowl (10g) having an open top and being configured to receive and contain the scented wax (100) ; a shroud (40) removably carried by the base (10) and having an open bottom receivable on the annular lip (Fig 2 the slanted perimeter) of the base (10) and an interior with the bowl (10g) receivable through the open bottom (Fig 2) and into the interior (Fig 1-2), the shroud (40) having a perimeter wall with at least one aperture and at least partially obscuring the bowl, the shroud (40) having a bore (being hollow tube see par.0050) therethrough; a heat source (20) (20) carried by the shroud (40) and positioned in the interior of the shroud (40), the heat source (20) (20) being pendant from the shroud (40) and positionable above the bowl (10g) (Fig 1-2); an electrical wire (par.0050) extending through the bore in the shroud (40) and electrically coupled to the heat source (20) (Fig 1-2, par.0050), the electrical wire (par.0050) having a conductive core (the electric wire of Par.0050) in an exterior insulative sheath (the tube of par.0050), the electrical wire (par.0050) having a proximal end; a wire box (socket 50) carried by the shroud (40) and positioned between the shroud (40) and the heat source (20), and containing an electrical connection between the proximal end of the electrical wire (par.0050) and the heat source (20); and a clamp opening (an opening of socket 50 for detachably holding lamp 20 see par.0045) carried by the wire box (socket 50) and receiving the proximal end of the wire (par.0048), the clamp opening (opening of socket 50 that receives lamp 20) pressing against the sheath of the electrical wire (par.0050) and retaining the proximal end of the electrical wire (par.0050) (note: all electrically connected see par.0048) with the wire box (50), and wherein the proximal end of the electrical wire (par.0050) is positively retained and contained within the wire box (socket 50 see Fig 1-2, par.0048 and par.0050). Regarding Claim 10 KANG teaches A wax (100) warmer device configured to warm a scented wax (100), the device comprising: a base (10) having a plate with an annular lip (Fig 2 the slanted perimeter) circumscribing the plate and a bowl (10g) extending from the plate and the annular lip (Fig 2 the slanted perimeter), the bowl (10g) having an open top and being configured to receive and contain the scented wax (100); a shroud (40) removably carried by the base (10) and having an open bottom receivable on the annular lip (Fig 2 the slanted perimeter) of the base (10) and an interior with the bowl (10g)receivable through the open bottom and into the interior, the shroud (40) having a perimeter wall with at least one aperture (being hollow tube see par.0050) and at least partially obscuring the bowl, the shroud (40) having a top; a heat source (20) carried by the shroud (40) and positioned in the interior of the shroud (40) closer to the top than the open bottom (Fig 1-2), the heat source (20) being pendant from the shroud (40) and positionable above the bowl; an electrical wire (par.0050) electrically coupled to the heat source (20); at least three bores (see Fig below) extending through the shroud (40) including a bottom bore closer to the open bottom of the shroud (40) and first and second top bores closer to the top of the shroud (40) (see Fig below); and the electrical wire (par.0050) extending in a serpentine path into the shroud (40) through the bottom bore (see Par.0050, Fig below), extending up the interior of the shroud (40) proximate the perimeter wall of the shroud (40), extending out of the shroud (40) through the first top bore, and extending back into the shroud (40) through the second top bore (Fig 1-2, Par.0048-0050). Regarding Claim 19 KANG teaches A wax (100) warmer device configured to warm a scented wax (100), the device comprising: a base (10) having a plate with an annular lip (Fig 2 the slanted perimeter) circumscribing the plate and a bowl (10g) extending from the plate and the annular lip (Fig 2 the slanted perimeter), the bowl (10g) having an open top and being configured to receive and contain the scented wax (100); a shroud (40) removably carried by the base (10) and having an open bottom receivable on the annular lip (Fig 2 the slanted perimeter) of the base (10) and an interior with the bowl (10g) receivable through the open bottom and into the interior (Fig 1-2), the shroud (40) having a perimeter wall with at least one aperture (being hollow tube see par.0050) and at least partially obscuring the bowl, the shroud (40) having a top opposite the open bottom; a heat source (20) carried by the shroud (40) and positioned in the interior of the shroud (40), the heat source (20) being pendant from the shroud (40) and positionable above the bowl; an electrical wire (par.0050) electrically coupled to the heat source (20), the electrical wire (par.0050) having a conductive core in an exterior insulative sheath (tube par.0050), the electrical wire (par.0050) having a proximal end; a wire box (socket 50) carried by the shroud (40) and positioned between the shroud (40) and the heat source (20), and containing an electrical connection between the proximal end of the electrical wire (par.0050) and the heat source (20); a clamp opening (opening of socket 50 that receives lamp 20) carried by the wire box (socket 50) and receiving the proximal end of the wire, the clamp opening (opening of socket 50 that receives lamp 20) pressing against the sheath of the electrical wire (par.0050) and retaining the proximal end of the electrical wire (par.0050) with the wire box, and wherein the proximal end of the electrical wire (par.0050) is positively retained and contained within the wire box (note: all electrically connected see par.0048); at least three bores (see Fig below).extending through the shroud (40) including a bottom bore closer to the open bottom of the shroud (40) and first and second top bores closer to the top of the shroud (40); and the electrical wire (par.0050) extending in a serpentine path into the shroud (40) through the bottom bore, extending up the interior of the shroud (40) proximate the perimeter wall of the shroud (40), extending out of the shroud (40) through the first top bore (see Fig below), and extending back into the shroud (40) through the second top bore (see Fig below). PNG media_image1.png 699 499 media_image1.png Greyscale Allowable subject matter Claims 2-9, 11-18 and 20 are objected to but would be allowable if rewritten to including all the limitations of the base claims and all the intervening claims. Conclusion Prior art made of record not relied up on is pertinent to applicant’s disclosure. Lee (US 2020/0038540 A1), Belongia (US 2018/0042070 A1) and Hsiao (US 2019/0022267 A1) all teach a wax warmer that utilize electrical connection to a reservoir. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ABIY TEKA whose telephone number is (571)272-9804. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 11-9 PM. 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, Nathaniel Wiehe can be reached at (571) 272-8648. 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. /ABIY TEKA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3745
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 28, 2023
Application Filed
Sep 04, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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
95%
With Interview (+10.2%)
2y 5m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 694 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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