Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/404,632

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jan 04, 2024
Priority
Jan 30, 2023 — JP 2023-011653
Examiner
PATEL, HARSHAD C
Art Unit
2831
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Mitsumi Electric Co. Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
91%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allowance Rate
925 granted / 1118 resolved
+14.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +9% lift
Without
With
+8.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 9m
Avg Prosecution
19 currently pending
Career history
1136
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
69.1%
+29.1% vs TC avg
§102
22.9%
-17.1% vs TC avg
§112
4.9%
-35.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1118 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 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: 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 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claims 1 and 8, lines 6-9, recites, “wherein each of the pair of contact pins includes a horizontally extending portion which is located in the housing and linearly extends in an insertion and extraction direction of the mating connector, wherein the horizontally extending portion has a pair of surfaces facing each other”. Figs. 10 and 11, shows a horizontally extending portion 21 of the pin 2 has a pir of surface 211 and 212, which are nor facing each other, therefore it is not clear how these surfaces are facing each other and hence it is indefinite and vague. Claim 7, line recites, “the shell”. There is an antecedent base issue of this limitation in the claim, as “shell” is not defined in claim 6 and 1. It seems that the dependency of clam 6 should be changed to claim 5 instead of claim 1. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. (US 10879633), (US 8092235), (US 6860765), (US 6319075), (US 6109933), (US 5453016), (US 20240429635), (US 20240405491), (US 20240213725), (US 11855394), (US 11909151) and (US 11764525), See attached PTO 892. 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 04, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 19, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
May 14, 2026
Response Filed

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12640506
PRESS-FIT TERMINAL
3y 1m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12640504
TERMINAL ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR FABRICATION THEREOF
2y 12m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12640528
Connector and Connector Assembly
3y 0m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12627103
SHIELDED CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY
2y 7m to grant Granted May 12, 2026
Patent 12620738
LOW-PROFILE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
3y 6m to grant Granted May 05, 2026
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
83%
Grant Probability
91%
With Interview (+8.7%)
1y 9m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1118 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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