Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 18, 2026
Application No. 18/478,415

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FILTER LIFETIME ESTIMATION IN RESPIRATORY PROTECTIVE DEVICE

Non-Final OA §101
Filed
Sep 29, 2023
Examiner
WOLFF, ARIELLE R
Art Unit
3785
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Honeywell Safety Products Usa Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
47%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 3m
To Grant
79%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 47% of resolved cases
47%
Career Allow Rate
82 granted / 173 resolved
-22.6% vs TC avg
Strong +32% interview lift
Without
With
+32.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 3m
Avg Prosecution
46 currently pending
Career history
219
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.9%
-37.1% vs TC avg
§103
57.4%
+17.4% vs TC avg
§102
13.1%
-26.9% vs TC avg
§112
21.2%
-18.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 173 resolved cases

Office Action

§101
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. This action is in response to the filing on 9/29/2023. Since the initial filing, no claims have been added, amended or cancelled. Thus, claims 1-10 are pending on the application. Priority Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority based on an application filed in China on 10/20/2022 . It is noted, however, that applicant has not filed a certified copy of the CN202211288608.X application as required by 37 CFR 1.55. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101 35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows: Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title. Claim s 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more. [STEP 1] In regards to claim 1, the claim is a method consisting of abstract ideas and is one of the four statutory categories. [STEP 2A, Prong One] The claim recites that following limitations that recite and abstract idea: determining a net volatility associated with a dispersing element of a filter component of a respiratory protective device; and based at least in part on the net volatility associated with the dispersing element, determining a remaining lifespan value for the filter component; wherein the net volatility associated with the dispersing element is determined based at least in part on one or more approximation algorithms defined according to one or more operational characteristics associated with the respiratory protective device (judgment of evaluation which is grouped as a mental process under 2019 PEG). The above limitations are limited to a mental process that can be done by a person simply collection data regarding user actions, evaluating that data and making a determination based upon that evaluation . [STEP 2B, Prong Two] The claim recites additional elements of a respiratory mask having a filter. These additional elements fail to integrate the judicial exception into a practical application because of the following: they are generic devices. The generic devices do not improve the function of the system of any other technology or technical field. The elements do not add meaningful limitations to the abstract idea because there are no distinguishing elements of the device. Thus, for these reasons, the abstract idea identified above in the independent claim 10 (and its respective dependent claims) is not integrated into a practical application under the 2019 PEG. [STEP 2B] The claim does not recite any additional structure that would make it significantly more than the judicial exception. T he devices are described with a high degree of generality without any features or elements to distinguish over the conventional and well known devices of the art as shown by Chun (US 2021/0386141; paragraph 98). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT Arielle Wolff whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-8727 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT Mon-Fri 8:00-4:00 . 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 Kendra Carter can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT (571) 272-9034 . 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. /ARIELLE WOLFF/ Examiner, Art Unit 3785 /KENDRA D CARTER/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3785
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Prosecution Timeline

Sep 29, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 31, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §101 (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
47%
Grant Probability
79%
With Interview (+32.0%)
3y 3m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 173 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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