Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 14, 2026
Application No. 18/438,530

LOW PROFILE BOARD-TO-BOARD INTERFACE CONTACTORS

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Feb 12, 2024
Priority
Feb 16, 2023 — provisional 63/446,194 +1 more
Examiner
PAUMEN, GARY F
Art Unit
2834
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Molex LLC
OA Round
2 (Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allowance Rate
1755 granted / 1980 resolved
+20.6% vs TC avg
Minimal -2% lift
Without
With
+-1.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 8m
Avg Prosecution
49 currently pending
Career history
1997
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.8%
-39.2% vs TC avg
§103
50.5%
+10.5% vs TC avg
§102
38.4%
-1.6% vs TC avg
§112
4.1%
-35.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1980 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 . 35 USC 102 Rejections 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. Claim(s) 1 and 5-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Wollitzer et al 9590345. Regarding claim 1, Wollitzer et al (Figure 7) discloses a board-to-board interface contactor, comprising: a contactor base body, the contactor body base comprising a peripheral seat 8 and an aperture (which receives pin 4); an elastic and conductive lid 9 positioned over the peripheral seat of the contactor base body; and a conductive pin 4 extending through the aperture in the contactor base body. Regarding claim 5, Wollitzer et al discloses the contactor base body further comprises a body pedestal 3 having an outer cylindrical surface; and the aperture extends through the body pedestal. Regarding claim 6, Wollitzer et al discloses the elastic and conductive lid 9 comprises a bottom surface, a central opening, and an inner cylindrical surface within the central opening; the bottom surface of the elastic and conductive lid contacts an upper seat surface of the peripheral seat 8; and the inner cylindrical surface of the elastic and conductive lid contacts the outer cylindrical surface of the body pedestal 3. Regarding claim 7, Wollitzer et al discloses the conductive pin 4,5 comprises a compressible plunger pin. Claims Defining Over Prior Art Claims 8-21 are allowed. Claims 2-4 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: none of the prior art discloses or teaches the wave spring positioned over the insulating interposer and within the shield body; in combination with the rest of the subject matter of the respective independent claim. Response To Arguments Applicant's arguments filed May 15, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Wollitzer et al clearly discloses peripheral seat 8 and conductive lid 9. Finality 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 GARY F PAUMEN whose telephone number is (571)272-2013. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th. 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, Christopher Koehler can be reached at 571-272-3560. 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. /GARY F PAUMEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 12, 2024
Application Filed
Mar 05, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
May 15, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 23, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102
Jul 23, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Jul 23, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12706417
ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY
2y 12m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Patent 12706315
METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR, SUCH AS A CURRENT ROD, FOR A HIGH-TEMPERATURE ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICE
3y 2m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Patent 12706410
CONNECTOR POSITION ASSURANCE FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
2y 9m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Patent 12706425
POWER CONECTOR SYSTEM
2y 9m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Patent 12706415
ON-VEHICLE CONNECTOR UNIT
2y 7m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
89%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (-1.5%)
1y 8m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1980 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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