Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 25, 2026
Application No. 18/405,637

WAISTBAND PROVIDING CONFIGURABLE MID-SECTION SUPPORT

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jan 05, 2024
Priority
Jan 06, 2023 — provisional 63/437,569
Examiner
HOEY, ALISSA L
Art Unit
3732
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Nike Inc.
OA Round
4 (Non-Final)
44%
Grant Probability
Moderate
4-5
OA Rounds
5m
Est. Remaining
76%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 44% of resolved cases
44%
Career Allowance Rate
464 granted / 1044 resolved
-25.6% vs TC avg
Strong +32% interview lift
Without
With
+32.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 3m
Avg Prosecution
36 currently pending
Career history
1088
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.5%
-34.5% vs TC avg
§103
40.8%
+0.8% vs TC avg
§102
26.1%
-13.9% vs TC avg
§112
20.5%
-19.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1044 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 . Response to Amendment This is in response to amendment received on 07/08/26. Claims 1, 7, 10, 12, 13, 17 and 21-22 have been amended. Claims 1, 3-5, 7-19 and 21-22 are examined herein. Claim Objections Claim 4 is objected to because of the following informalities: claim 4 repeats limitations that have been amended into claim 1, the duplicate limitations should be deleted from claim 4. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 8 is objected to because of the following informalities: claim 8 repeats limitations that have been amended into claim 1, the duplicate limitations should be deleted from claim 8. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 12 is objected to because of the following informalities: claim 12 repeats limitations that have been amended into claim 1, the duplicate limitations should be deleted from claim 12. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 18 is objected to because of the following informalities: claim 18 repeats limitations that have been amended into claim 13, the duplicate limitations should be deleted from claim 18. Appropriate correction is required. 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, 3-5, 7-19 and 21-22 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. In regard to claim 1, it is unclear what is meant by the last paragraph of claim 1. Is applicant attempting to claim a specific side seam location? The posterior and anterior portions are defined in the claim as the portions extending from the side seams in the front and the back of the garment. The last paragraph makes the seam locations and the posterior and anterior portions locations unclear. The side seam is the delimiting factor of the anterior and posterior portions, how can the side seams be located closer to the anterior in the posterior, wouldn’t the seam be the boarder of the anterior and posterior portion? The seam is what creates the anterior and posterior. It is unclear what applicant is requiring of the seams and the anterior and posterior portions. In regard to claim 10, it is unclear what is meant by the limitation “wherein the first textile panel comprises each of the first textile panel, the second textile panel, and the third textile panel”. How can the first textile panel comprise itself and the other panels? It is unclear what is required to read on the claim. In regard to claim 13, the side seams are claimed to be aligned with the right and left side of the torso portion as recited in lines 17-18 and then in the last paragraph, the first side seam is located in a posterior first side portion and the second side seam is located in a posterior second side portion. It is unclear where the side seams are located. Any remaining claims are rejected depending from a rejected base claim. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to the claims have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. 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 ALISSA L HOEY whose telephone number is (571)272-4985. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 9:00-5:30 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, Clinton T Ostrup can be reached at (571)272-5559. 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. ALISSA L. HOEY Primary Examiner Art Unit 3732 /ALISSA L HOEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3732
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 11 earlier events
Feb 17, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Apr 08, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jul 08, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 10, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112
Aug 15, 2026
Interview Requested
Aug 24, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Aug 24, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Oct 13, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12745816
HELMET
4y 3m to grant Granted Sep 29, 2026
Patent 12714155
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1y 12m to grant Granted Aug 25, 2026
Patent 12708163
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1y 6m to grant Granted Aug 18, 2026
Patent 12690633
TEMPERATURE REGULATING INSULATIVE SYSTEM
2y 8m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12653250
COAT WITH INTEGRAL DRAG HARNESS
2y 2m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

4-5
Expected OA Rounds
44%
Grant Probability
76%
With Interview (+32.0%)
3y 3m (~5m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 1044 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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