Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/493,316

FLUID APPLICATOR WITH PROPORTIONAL VALVE

Non-Final OA

Filed

Oct 24, 2023

Examiner

THOMAS, BINU

Art Unit

1717

Tech Center

1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering

Assignee

GM Global Technology Operations LLC

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +26.7% interview lift. Interview already conducted in this application's prosecution history. This examiner has a 72% grant rate with +26.7% interview lift. Since an interview has already been tried, recommend written response with narrowed claims based on precedent claim evolution patterns.

Based on 814 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

THOMAS, BINU View full profile →

Grants 72% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

590 granted / 814 resolved

+7.5% vs TC avg

Strong +27% interview lift

Without

With

+26.7%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

2y 11m

Avg Prosecution

50 currently pending

Career history

855

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

0.7%

-39.3% vs TC avg

§103

83.1%

+43.1% vs TC avg

§102

4.7%

-35.3% vs TC avg

§112

8.9%

-31.1% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 814 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 24, 2023

Application Filed

Jun 01, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed

Jun 10, 2026

Interview Requested

Jun 24, 2026

Examiner Interview Summary

Jun 24, 2026

Applicant Interview (Telephonic)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/350,027

Patent 12673344

Glue Applying Machine

2y 12m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026

18/027,667

Patent 12661681

Dual Slot Die For Simultaneously Performing Electrode Slurry Coating And Insulating Solution Coating And Coating Method Using The Same

3y 3m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026

17/997,188

Patent 12649163

APPARATUS FOR COATING OR ENCAPSULATING ARTICLES

3y 7m to grant Granted Jun 09, 2026

18/514,712

Patent 12643122

DEPOSITION OF SEALANT OR SIMILAR MATERIALS

2y 6m to grant Granted Jun 02, 2026

17/621,333

Patent 12638787

SUBSTRATE HANDLING SYSTEM OF A LITHOGRAPHY APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREOF

4y 5m to grant Granted May 26, 2026

Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.

Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2

Expected OA Rounds

72%

Grant Probability

99%

With Interview (+26.7%)

2y 11m (~2m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 814 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.