Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/359,314

CLEANABLE WHISK ATTACHMENTS FOR STAND MIXER APPLIANCES

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Jul 26, 2023
Examiner
BHATIA, ANSHU
Art Unit
1774
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Haier US Appliance Solutions Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
85%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 11m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 85% — above average
85%
Career Allow Rate
783 granted / 926 resolved
+19.6% vs TC avg
Strong +17% interview lift
Without
With
+16.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
45 currently pending
Career history
971
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
44.7%
+4.7% vs TC avg
§102
28.1%
-11.9% vs TC avg
§112
21.0%
-19.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 926 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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 § 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)(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 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) for being anticipated by Guilder (U.S. Patent 2,571,316). Regarding claim 8, Guilder teaches a whisk configured to couple to attach to a stand mixer (whisk shown in figures 2 and 9) the whisk defining an axial direction (a vertical direction), a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction (a direction extending outward from the shaft is considered a radial direction), and a circumferential direction extending around the axial direction (a direction of the whisk rotation), the whisk comprising: a mounting socket at a top end of the whisk (sleeve item 56 is considered reading on a socket that is at the top of the whisk), the mounting socket extending along the axial direction from the top end of the whisk to a hub (item 56 extends in a vertical direction), the mounting socket configured to attach to a shaft of the stand mixer (shaft proximate item 40 driven end); a plurality of tines arrayed along a first portion and a second portion of a circumference of the hub (items 44, 45, and 48), each tine of the plurality of tines comprising a first radial segment extending out from the first portion of the hub along the radial direction (portion extending out from center proximate items 72, 88, and 106), a first linear segment extending approximately along the axial direction (proximate items 71, 87, and 104 that extend downward in the axial direction), a first fillet between the first radial segment and the first linear segment (bend in the whisk extending from items 44 to 71, 45 to 87, and 106 to 104), and an arcuate segment curving radially inward to an inflection point at a bottom end of the whisk (bends curving to items 69, 83, and 102), the arcuate segment of each tine of the plurality tines curving radially outward from the inflection point of the arcuate segment to a second linear segment of each tine of the plurality tines (items 69, 83, and 102 extend towards items 110, 92, and 73, which are considered forming second linear segments), the second linear segment of each tine of the plurality tines extending from the arcuate segment to a second fillet (items 110, 92, and 73 extend towards a bend at the top portion above which is considered reading on a second fillet), the second fillet extending between the second linear segment and a second radial segment (bends in between items 110, 92, 73 and items 112, 94, and 75), the second radial segment extending inward along the radial direction to the hub (items 112, 94, and 75 extend inward towards the center of the whisk), wherein each second radial segment ends at the second portion of the circumference of the hub at an opposing side of the hub from a respective first radial segment (items 72, 88, and 106 are opposed to items 75, 94, and 112 along an axial direction extending through the shaft); a first gap in a third portion of the circumference of the hub (gap proximate item 122); and a second gap in a fourth portion of the circumference of the hub (gap proximate item 123), wherein the first and second gap extend between the first and second portion on opposing sides of the hub (gaps proximate items 122 and 123 are on opposing sides of gaps proximate item 56 and 88). Regarding claim 9, Guilder teaches wherein the plurality of tines comprises central tine defining the first and second portions with respect to the circumferential direction (figure 2 item 44 is considered the central tine, figure 9 proximate items 73 and 70 are considered defining the first and second portions with respect to the circumferential direction shown by arrows proximate item 119). Regarding claim 10, Guilder teaches wherein the plurality of tines extend along the axial direction no less than one third of a total axial length of the plurality of tines (items 44, 46 and 48 extend along the axial direction at nearly the entire axial length of the plurality of tines). Regarding claim 15, Guilder teaches A whisk configured to attach to a stand mixer (figures 2, 8 and 9 show a whisk, figure 1 shows a stand mixer, the stand mixer is considered intended use), the whisk defining an axial direction (defined as an up and down direction), a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction (a direction extending outward from the shaft is considered a radial direction), and a circumferential direction extending around the axial direction (a direction of the whisk rotation), the whisk comprising: a mounting socket at a top end of the whisk (sleeve item 56 is considered reading on a socket that is at the top of the whisk), the mounting socket extending along the axial direction from the top end of the whisk to a hub (item 56 extends in a vertical direction), the mounting socket configured to attach to a shaft of the stand mixer (shaft proximate item 40 driven end, the shaft is considered intended use); a plurality of tines arrayed along a first portion and a second portion of a circumference of the hub (items 44, 46, and 48 are considered reading on the tines, a first portion in figure 9 proximate item 56, and a second portion proximate item 88); a first gap in a third portion of the circumference of the hub (gap proximate item 122); and a second gap in a fourth portion of the circumference of the hub (gap proximate item 123), wherein the first and second gap extend between the first and second portion on opposing sides of the hub (gaps proximate items 122 and 123 are on opposing sides of gaps proximate item 56 and 88). Regarding claim 16, Guilder teaches wherein the plurality of tines comprises central tine defining the first and second portions with respect to the circumferential direction (figure 2 item 44 is considered the central tine, figure 9 proximate items 73 and 70 are considered defining the first and second portions with respect to the circumferential direction shown by arrows proximate item 119). Regarding claim 17, Guilder teaches wherein the plurality of tines extend along the axial direction no less than one third of a total axial length of the plurality of tines (items 44, 46 and 48 extend along the axial direction at nearly the entire axial length of the plurality of tines). 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. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. Claims 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guilder (U.S. Patent 2,571,316). Regarding claim 11, Guilder is silent to the specific angle of the tines. Regarding claim 12, absent any unexpected results, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to rearrange the location of the tines relative to each other to obtain the desired degree of agitation since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70. Regarding claim 12, Guilder is silent to the specific gap sizes of the tines. Regarding claim 12, absent any unexpected results, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to rearrange the location of the tines relative to each other to obtain the desired degree of agitation since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70. Regarding claim 13, Guilder teaches a snap bend (bearing portion 81 with a u shape, see column 4 lines 48-50). Regarding claim 13, Guilder is silent to the snap bend specifically being on the central tine. Regarding claim 13, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the mixer of Guilder with the support column configuration of Drees in order to allow for easier mixing operation by a user. Regarding claim 13, absent any unexpected results, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to rearrange the location of the snap bend to secure the central tines to the remaining tines since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70. Regarding claim 14, Guilder teaches wherein the snap bend snaps over one tine of the plurality of tines at the inflection point (item 81 snaps over item 46). Regarding claim 18, Guilder is silent to the specific angle of the tines. Regarding claim 18, absent any unexpected results, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to rearrange the location of the tines relative to each other to obtain the desired degree of agitation since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70. Regarding claim 19, Guilder is silent to the specific gap sizes of the tines. Regarding claim 19, absent any unexpected results, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to rearrange the location of the tines relative to each other to obtain the desired degree of agitation since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70. Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guilder (U.S. Patent 2,571,316) in view of Drees (U.S. Publication 2012/0170404). Regarding claim 1, Guilder teaches a stand mixer (figure 1) defining a vertical direction (a vertical direction is considered a direction going though item 40), a lateral direction (a direction perpendicular to item 40, and parallel to the top of the bowl), and a transverse direction (a direction both perpendicular to a vertical direction and lateral direction), wherein the vertical direction, the lateral direction, and the transverse direction are mutually perpendicular (3 perpendicular directions can extend in the stand mixer of figure 1 including a vertical direction extending through item 40), the stand mixer comprising: a base (proximate item 20); a head extending above the base (power unit item 28 extends above item 20), the head comprising a drivetrain inside an interior of the head (column 2 lines 19-35 teaches power unit item 28 which is considered inherently requiring a drive train for the shaft proximate item 40), a shaft positioned at the bottom end of the head (shaft proximate item 40) and extending downwardly between the head and the base (item 40 extends downwardly between item 28 and item 20), the shaft rotatably connected to a drive train (power unit 28 inherently requires a drive train in order to drive item 40, item 40 is connected to mixing head 32 via item 34); the drive train configured to rotate the shaft about the vertical direction (item 40 rotates around a vertical axis via item 34); and a whisk configured to couple to the shaft (whisk shown in figures 2 and 9) the whisk defining an axial direction (a vertical direction), a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction (a direction extending outward from the shaft is considered a radial direction), and a circumferential direction extending around the axial direction (a direction of the whisk rotation), the whisk comprising: a mounting socket at a top end of the whisk (sleeve item 56 is considered reading on a socket that is at the top of the whisk), the mounting socket extending along the axial direction from the top end of the whisk to a hub (item 56 extends in a vertical direction), the mounting socket configured to attach to a shaft of the stand mixer (shaft proximate item 40 driven end); a plurality of tines arrayed along a first portion and a second portion of a circumference of the hub (items 44, 45, and 48), each tine of the plurality of tines comprising a first radial segment extending out from the first portion of the hub along the radial direction (portion extending out from center proximate items 72, 88, and 106), a first linear segment extending approximately along the axial direction (proximate items 71, 87, and 104 that extend downward in the axial direction), a first fillet between the first radial segment and the first linear segment (bend in the whisk extending from items 44 to 71, 45 to 87, and 106 to 104), and an arcuate segment curving radially inward to an inflection point at a bottom end of the whisk (bends curving to items 69, 83, and 102), the arcuate segment of each tine of the plurality tines curving radially outward from the inflection point of the arcuate segment to a second linear segment of each tine of the plurality tines (items 69, 83, and 102 extend towards items 110, 92, and 73, which are considered forming second linear segments), the second linear segment of each tine of the plurality tines extending from the arcuate segment to a second fillet (items 110, 92, and 73 extend towards a bend at the top portion above which is considered reading on a second fillet), the second fillet extending between the second linear segment and a second radial segment (bends in between items 110, 92, 73 and items 112, 94, and 75), the second radial segment extending inward along the radial direction to the hub (items 112, 94, and 75 extend inward towards the center of the whisk), wherein each second radial segment ends at the second portion of the circumference of the hub at an opposing side of the hub from a respective first radial segment (items 72, 88, and 106 are opposed to items 75, 94, and 112 along an axial direction extending through the shaft); a first gap in a third portion of the circumference of the hub (gap proximate item 122); and a second gap in a fourth portion of the circumference of the hub (gap proximate item 123), wherein the first and second gap extend between the first and second portion on opposing sides of the hub (gaps proximate items 122 and 123 are on opposing sides of gaps proximate item 56 and 88). Regarding claim 1, Guilder is silent to a support column attached to the base and extending upwardly from the base; the head specifically attached to the support column. Regarding claim 1, Drees teaches a stand mixer (paragraph 2) with a support column attached to the base (figure 1 item 16 is attached to item 14) and extending upwardly from the base (item 16 extends upwardly from item 14); the head specifically attached to the support column (item 12 is attached to item 16); the head comprising a drivetrain inside an interior of the head (item 18 motor inside item 12). Regarding claim 1, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the mixer of Guilder with the support column configuration of Drees in order to allow for easier mixing operation by a user. Regarding claim 2, Guilder teaches wherein the plurality of tines comprises central tine defining the first and second portions with respect to the circumferential direction (figure 2 item 44 is considered the central tine, figure 9 proximate items 73 and 70 are considered defining the first and second portions with respect to the circumferential direction shown by arrows proximate item 119). Regarding claim 3, Guilder teaches wherein the plurality of tines extend along the axial direction no less than one third of a total axial length of the plurality of tines (items 44, 46 and 48 extend along the axial direction at nearly the entire axial length of the plurality of tines). Regarding claim 4, Guilder is silent to the specific angle of the tines. Regarding claim 4, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the mixer of Guilder with the support column configuration of Drees in order to allow for easier mixing operation by a user. Regarding claim 4, absent any unexpected results, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to rearrange the location of the tines relative to each other to obtain the desired degree of agitation since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70. Regarding claim 5, Guilder is silent to the specific gap sizes of the tines. Regarding claim 5, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the mixer of Guilder with the support column configuration of Drees in order to allow for easier mixing operation by a user. Regarding claim 5, absent any unexpected results, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to rearrange the location of the tines relative to each other to obtain the desired degree of agitation since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70. Regarding claim 6, Guilder teaches a snap bend (bearing portion 81 with a u shape, see column 4 lines 48-50). Regarding claim 6, Guilder is silent to the snap bend specifically being on the central tine. Regarding claim 6, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the mixer of Guilder with the support column configuration of Drees in order to allow for easier mixing operation by a user. Regarding claim 6, absent any unexpected results, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to rearrange the location of the snap bend to secure the central tines to the remaining tines since it has been held that rearranging parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art. In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70. Regarding claim 7, Guilder teaches wherein the snap bend snaps over one tine of the plurality of tines at the inflection point (item 81 snaps over item 46). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT ANSHU BHATIA whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)270-7628 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT Monday - Friday 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. . 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, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Claire Wang can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)270-1051 . 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. /ANSHU BHATIA/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1774
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 26, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 20, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102, §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
99%
With Interview (+16.6%)
2y 11m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 926 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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