Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 17, 2026
Application No. 18/408,813

Sun Exposure Monitor and Sunscreen Storage Wearable Device

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Jan 10, 2024
Examiner
KIM, KIHO
Art Unit
2884
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
unknown
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
85%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 0m
To Grant
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 85% — above average
85%
Career Allow Rate
1419 granted / 1661 resolved
+17.4% vs TC avg
Minimal +4% lift
Without
With
+4.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 0m
Avg Prosecution
27 currently pending
Career history
1688
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.1%
-36.9% vs TC avg
§103
54.1%
+14.1% vs TC avg
§102
25.4%
-14.6% vs TC avg
§112
12.6%
-27.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1661 resolved cases

Office Action

§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 § 103 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. Claim(s) 1 – 6, 11 – 16, and 19 – 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sun (EP 3491962 B1), and further in view of Tsai (US 2004/0031927 A1), Yapaola (US 2008/0251539 A1), and Guerst (US 4,982,882). With respect to independent claim 1, Sun teaches in Fig. 1A a sun exposure wrist bracelet for monitoring UV exposure, the sun exposure wrist bracelet comprising: a sun exposure bracelet for monitoring UV exposure having a flexible band 103, a display 110, and a sunscreen reservoir 102; wherein said flexible band forming a closed loop to selectively conform around a wrist of a user in Fig. 1A; but Sun is silent with wherein said display having a touch-based display including a display of a current time, a current temperature, and a UV exposure. However, Sun teaches his display 110 as a liquid crystal display panel or OLED panel in paragraph [0035]. In view of this, the display of Sun could be touch-based display because at the time of the Sun’s invention, touch-based display is well-known. Tsai, a pertinent art, teaches in paragraph [0016] a display including a display of a current time, a current temperature, and a UV exposure. In view of this, it would be obvious at the time of the claimed invention was filed to modify the teaching of Sun in order to have a desired display that can display desired data. This is in consistency with the Supreme Court Decision of the KSR. V. International Co.: applying a known technique to a known device (method or product) ready for improvement to yield predictable results. Sun is silent with wherein said sunscreen reservoir disposed inside a portion of said flexible band having a quantity of sunscreen stored therein; and further wherein said sunscreen reservoir having a pivoting lid and a nozzle for dispensing said sunscreen. Yapaola, a pertinent art, teaches in Fig. 1 wherein said sunscreen reservoir 104 disposed inside a portion of said flexible band having a quantity of sunscreen stored therein and in paragraph [0031] a nozzle that can be opened by activator. And Guerst teaches in Fig. 2 a pivoting lid 9 for dispensing a fluid or viscous product. In view of these, it would be obvious at the time of the claimed invention was filed to modify the teaching of Sun modified by Tsai in order to protect desired material with a pivotal lid and dispense desired material. This is in consistency with the Supreme Court Decision of the KSR. V. International Co.: Obvious to try – choosing form a finite number of predictable results. With respect to independent claim 11, as discussed above Sun modified by Tsai, Yapaola and Guerst teaches a sun exposure wrist bracelet for monitoring UV exposure, the sun exposure wrist bracelet comprising: a sun exposure bracelet for monitoring UV exposure having a flexible band, a display, a UV sensor, a time keeping module, a temperature sensor, and a sunscreen reservoir; wherein said flexible band forming a closed loop to selectively conform around a wrist of a user; wherein said display having a touch-based display including a display of a current time from said time keeping module, a current temperature from said temperature sensor, and a UV exposure from said UV sensor; wherein said UV sensor detecting UV radiations emitting from the sun onto said sun exposure bracelet; wherein said detected UV radiations comprising said UV exposure; wherein said sunscreen reservoir disposed inside a portion of said flexible band having a quantity of sunscreen stored therein; and further wherein said sunscreen reservoir having a pivoting lid and a nozzle for dispensing said sunscreen. With respect to dependent claim 2, Yapaola teaches in Fig. 1 wherein said sunscreen reservoir and said pivoting lid forming a portion of an exterior surface of said sun exposure bracelet. With respect to dependent claim 3, Yapaola teaches in paragraph [0012] wherein said sunscreen reservoir is replenishable. With respect to dependent claim 4, Sun is silent with wherein said flexible band having a material selected from a group consisting of a polymer and a rubber. Yapaola teaches in paragraph [0031] flexible plastic. In view of this, it would be obvious at the time of the claimed invention was filed to modify the teaching of Sun modified by Tsai, Yapaola, and Guerst in order to fabricate desired flexible wrist band with known material such as polymer or rubber. This is in consistency with the Supreme Court Decision of the KSR. V. International Co.: Obvious to try – choosing form a finite number of predictable results. With respect to dependent claim 5, as discussed above Tsai teaches wherein said UV exposure indicating sun exposure to the user. With respect to dependent claim 6, Sun teaches in paragraph [0017] wherein said sun exposure bracelet having an alert for alerting the user when said UV exposure exceeds a predetermined threshold of UV exposure. With respect to dependent claims 12 – 13, Sun teaches in paragraph [0028] wherein said UV sensor having a photodetector responsive to said UV radiations and wherein said UV sensor configured to generate an electrical signal proportional to an intensity of said UV radiations. With respect to dependent claim 14, Sun teaches in paragraph [0029] wherein said electrical signal transmitted to a microprocessor for calculating a UV index including a numerical rating of the intensity of said UV radiations. With respect to dependent claim 15, Sun teaches in Fig. 1A a wrist band, and therefore, teaches wherein said UV exposure indicating sun exposure to the user. With respect to dependent claim 16, Sun teaches in paragraph [0005] wherein said sun exposure bracelet having an alert for alerting the user when said UV exposure exceeds a predetermined threshold of said UV index. With respect to independent claim 19, as discussed above Sun modified by Tsai, Yapaola and Guerst teaches a sun exposure wrist bracelet for monitoring UV exposure, the sun exposure wrist bracelet comprising: a sun exposure bracelet for monitoring UV exposure having a flexible band, a display, a UV sensor, a time keeping module, a temperature sensor, and a sunscreen reservoir; wherein said flexible band forming a closed loop to selectively conform around a wrist of a wearer; wherein said display having a touch-based display including a display of a current time from said time keeping module, a current temperature from said temperature sensor, and a UV exposure from said UV sensor; wherein said UV sensor detecting UV radiations emitting from the sun onto said sun exposure bracelet; wherein said detected UV radiations comprising said UV exposure; wherein said sunscreen reservoir disposed inside a portion of said flexible band having a quantity of sunscreen stored therein; wherein said sunscreen reservoir having a nozzle for dispensing said sunscreen; wherein said UV sensor configured to generate an electrical signal proportional to an intensity of said UV radiations; wherein said electrical signal transmitted to a microprocessor for calculating a UV index including a numerical rating of the intensity of said UV radiations; and further wherein said sun exposure bracelet having an alert for alerting the wearer when said UV exposure exceeds a predetermined threshold of said UV index. With respect to dependent claim 20, as discussed above Sun teaches wherein said UV sensor having a photodetector responsive to said UV radiations, and further wherein said UV exposure indicating sun exposure to the wearer. Claim(s) 7 and 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sun modified by Tsai, Yapaola, and Guerst, and further in view of Aslam (US 2012/0326046 A1). The teaching of Sun modified by Tsai, Yapaola, and Guerst has been discussed above. With respect to dependent claim 7, Sun is silent with wherein said sun exposure bracelet having a speaker and said alert is an audible alert. Aslam, a pertinent art, teaches in paragraph [0055] audible alert if a predetermined exposure level has been exceeded. In view of this, it would be obvious at the time of the claimed invention was filed to modify the teaching of Sun modified by Tsai, Yapaola, and Guerst in order to have a desired function in the wrist sun exposure measuring system. This is in consistency with the Supreme Court Decision of the KSR. V. International Co.: applying a known technique to a known device (method or product) ready for improvement to yield predictable results. With respect to dependent claim 17, as discussed above, Aslam teaches wherein said sun exposure bracelet having a speaker and said alert is an audible alert. Claim(s) 8 and 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sun modified by Tsai, Yapaola, Guerst, and Aslam, and further in view of Aslam2 (US 2015/0241273 A1). The teaching of Sun modified by Tsai, Yapaola, and Guerst has been discussed above. With respect to dependent claim 8, Sun is silent with wherein said alert is a visual alert on said display for alerting the user when said UV exposure exceeds said predetermined threshold of UV exposure. Aslam2, a pertinent art, teaches in claim of 16 of Aslam2 a visual alarm. In view of this, it would be obvious at the time of the claimed invention was filed to modify the teaching of Sun modified by Tsai, Yapaola, Guerst, and Aslam in order to alert a user with a known alerting method. This is in consistency with the Supreme Court Decision of the KSR. V. International Co.: applying a known technique to a known device (method or product) ready for improvement to yield predictable results. With respect to dependent claim 18, as discussed above Aslam2 teaches wherein said alert is a visual alert on said display for alerting the user when said UV exposure exceeds said predetermined threshold of said UV index. Claim(s) 9 – 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sun modified by Tsai, Yapaola, Guerst, Aslam, and Aslam2, and further in view of Lapiere (US 2016/0061657 A1). The teaching of Sun modified by Tsai, Yapaola, Guerst, Aslam, and Aslam2 has been discussed above. With respect to dependent claim 9, Sun is silent with wherein said sun exposure bracelet having a rechargeable battery and a charging port for charging said rechargeable battery and supplying power to said display. Lapiere, a pertinent art, teaches a rechargeable battery 135 for a wrist band (see paragraph [0023]). In view of this, it would be obvious at the time of the claimed invention was filed to modify the teaching of Sun modified by Tsai, Yapaola, Guerst, Aslam, and Aslam2 in order to have desired power source in a wrist band system. This is in consistency with the Supreme Court Decision of the KSR. V. International Co.: applying a known technique to a known device (method or product) ready for improvement to yield predictable results. With respect to dependent claim 10, Sun teaches wherein said touch-based display selected from a screen consisting of a capacitive touchscreen, an AMOLED touchscreen, an LCD touchscreen see paragraph [0035], and an E-ink display see paragraph [0035]. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KIHO KIM, Ph.D. whose telephone number is (571)270-1628. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 8-5 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, David Makiya can be reached at (571)272-2273. 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. KIHO KIM, Ph.D. Primary Examiner Art Unit 2884 /Kiho Kim/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2884
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Prosecution Timeline

Jan 10, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 19, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §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
90%
With Interview (+4.2%)
2y 0m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1661 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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