Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 17, 2026
Application No. 18/482,865

Haddle

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Oct 07, 2023
Examiner
LEWIS, DAVID LEE
Art Unit
3715
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
unknown
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
66%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 11m
To Grant
75%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 66% — above average
66%
Career Allow Rate
96 granted / 145 resolved
-3.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +9% lift
Without
With
+8.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 11m
Avg Prosecution
10 currently pending
Career history
155
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
10.3%
-29.7% vs TC avg
§103
39.0%
-1.0% vs TC avg
§102
39.6%
-0.4% vs TC avg
§112
8.3%
-31.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 145 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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. Procedural Summary This is responsive to the claims filed 12/11 /2023 . Claims 1- 7 are pending. The Drawings filed on 11/17/2023 , 12/11/2024, 1/2/2024 , and 2/5/2024 are objected to . AIA Notice In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. Drawings New corrected drawings in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in this application because the features of claim 1 such as 1) the silicone loop for the middle finger and 2) a velcro strap for the wrist are not illustrated by the drawings. While the drawings provide d on 2/5/2025 include text for said features, they are not illustrated in the drawing , further the text being provide in the drawing is objected to . The drawings provided on 1/2/2024 are more appropriate however they lack the silicone and Velcro strap features found in claim 1 , and further lack appropriate figure numbers and item numbers that describe the features in the specification referring to the specific figure items , and the avoid the problem of providing a color image . The Applicant can sample issued patents to find examples of drawings in compliance. The Examiner recommends the Applicant list the figures as figure 1, figure 2, figure 3, and figure 4. Further each figure should include items listed a s items 1 to N, N representing the number of itemized features being discussed in the specification. For example, figure 1 item 10 can be a silicone support strap. Figure 1 item 20 can be a Velcro wrist strap. Figure 1 item 30 can be the front side. Figure 1 item 40 can be the rear side. Figure 1 item 50 can be the stand-off for wrist support strap. Figure 1item 60 can be the height dimension. Figure 1 item 70 can be the width dimension. These figures would need to be added to the specification description. Drawin in compliance with 37 CRF 1.121(d) Applicant is advised to employ the services of a competent patent draftsperson outside the Office, as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office no longer prepares new drawings. The corrected drawings are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. The requirement for corrected drawings will not be held in abeyance. Color photographs and color drawings are not accepted in utility applications unless a petition filed under 37 CFR 1.84(a)(2) is granted . Any such petition must be accompanied by the appropriate fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(h), one set of color drawings or color photographs, as appropriate, if submitted via the USPTO p atent e lectronic f iling s ystem or three sets of color drawings or color photographs, as appropriate, if not submitted via the via USPTO p atent e lectronic f iling s ystem , and, unless already present, an amendment to include the following language as the first paragraph of the brief description of the drawings section of the specification: The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee. Color photographs will be accepted if the conditions for accepting color drawings and black and white photographs have been satisfied. See 37 CFR 1.84(b)(2). Specification The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: The Specification filed on 12/11/2023 would need to include the modified drawing figure language describing each figure and item number being discussed. Figure AA should be Figure 1. Figure BB should be Figure 2. Applicant is advised to review issued patents to see specification’s that properly recite drawing figures in the discussion of the drawings section. Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1 - 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 10 2 (a) (2) as being anticipated over US Patent # 4,516,774 by Nankivell . Regarding Claims 1, Nankivell teaches of a paddle for playing pickleball or beach tennis, figure 3 item 16 , comprising: a) a lightweight, elongated body having a front hitting surface, figure 4 item 132 , and a rear gripping surface, figure 2 item 30 , and b) a securing means for attaching the paddle to the user's hand on the rear gripping surface, figure 3 item 65 , said securing means comprising a silicon loop for the middle finger, figure 3 item 65 (known elastic straps include silicone), and a Velcro strap for the wrist , figure 3 item 69, 122, 124, column 5 lines 40-65. Regarding Claims 2, Nankivell teaches of wherein the rear gripping surface of the body has a concave shape to conform to the user's hand , figure 2 item 30. Regarding Claims 3, Nankivell teaches of wherein the rear gripping surface has a textured pattern to increase grip and reduce slipping , figure 3 item 30, column 3 lines 29-39. Regarding Claims 4, Nankivell teaches of wherein the securing means further comprises an adjustable strap for tightening or loosening the fit of the paddle on the user's hand , figure 2 items 122, 124. Regarding Claims 5, Nankivell teaches of wherein the front hitting surface has a resin coating for increased durability and spin control , figure 4 item 132, column 6 lines 1-20. Wherein as is known molded plastic is a finished product derived from resin, said texture is produced by a resin coating. Regarding Claims 6, Nankivell teaches of wherein the body is made of composite materials that are lightweight and resilient , column 3 lines 19-39. Regarding Claims 7, Nankivell teaches of wherein the securing means is detachable from the paddle body for ease of cleaning and maintenance , figure 3 item 69, 122, 124, column 5 lines 40-65 Conclusion Claims 1- 7 are examined above. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure and is provided in the Notice of References cited. Kurland (5102146) teaches of the claimed invention minus the silicone loop for the finger. Swimming Paddles are very similar to the claimed invention as shown in the cited prior art , and well known in the art of sports activity paddles . Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to David L Lewis whose telephone number is (571) 272-7673. The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT M-F 10:00AM-5:00PM . 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 . 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. /DAVID L LEWIS/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3715
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Prosecution Timeline

Oct 07, 2023
Application Filed
Dec 22, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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Golf Practice Device
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Patent 12544639
MINIATURE GOLF HOLE WITH SPINNING WHEEL
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 10, 2026
Patent 12434121
Boxxyball
2y 5m to grant Granted Oct 07, 2025
Patent 7843436
PORTABLE INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS
2y 5m to grant Granted Nov 30, 2010
Patent 7834844
ELECTRONIC INK DISPLAY DEVICE AND DRIVING METHOD
2y 5m to grant Granted Nov 16, 2010
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
66%
Grant Probability
75%
With Interview (+8.8%)
3y 11m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 145 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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