Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/510,255

Fasteners and Geometry for Casting Attachment

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Nov 15, 2023
Examiner
PATEL, VISHAL A
Art Unit
3675
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
59%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 1m
To Grant
81%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 59% of resolved cases
59%
Career Allow Rate
483 granted / 820 resolved
+6.9% vs TC avg
Strong +22% interview lift
Without
With
+21.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
47 currently pending
Career history
867
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
§103
36.8%
-3.2% vs TC avg
§102
33.0%
-7.0% vs TC avg
§112
25.7%
-14.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 820 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. 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)(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) 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by Shinomiya et al (US20100252705A1) . Shinomiya discloses a retainer (e.g. figures) to couple a first component (e.g. 200 ) to a second component (e.g. 101 ) having a rib (e.g. 100 ) via a male fastener (e.g. 202A) , the retainer comprising a body portion (e.g. body of 1) having formed therein a female fastener (e.g. female fastener receiving the male fastener 202A) , wherein the female fastener is configured to receive the male fastener (e.g. figures 7-10), one or more tabs (e.g. two of 7 adjacent to 4 ) coupled to the body portion , and a plurality of retention clips (e.g. 1st clip having 8, 2nd clip having 9 and 5a and 3rd clip having other of 7 and 6 ) resiliently coupled to the body portion, wherein the one or more tabs (e.g. the two of 7 adjacent to 4 ) and at least one of the plurality of retention clips cooperate to define a cavity (e.g. cavity receiving 100) configured to receive the rib, and wherein the plurality of retention clips is arranged to engage and retain the rib within the cavity (e.g. see figures 7-10) . Regarding claim 2: W herein the female fastener is shaped as a collar (e.g. collar receiving 202A) with a plurality of grooves (e.g. 2, 2A and groove in 9) formed on an inner sidewall surface thereof. Regarding claim 3: W herein the body portion defines a set of shoulders (e.g. shoulders having 7 which can be received in a potential doghouse structure) configured to engage a doghouse structure (e.g. intended use, the set of shoulders are capable of being received in a doghouse) . Regarding claim 4: W herein the plurality of retention clips defines a set of clips guide members (e.g. tapered surfaces of the plurality of retention clips) configured to guide a distal end of the rib into the cavity (e.g. see clip guide members which receive 100, figures 7-8) . Regarding claim 5: W herein the plurality of retention clips comprises a first retention clip, a second retention clip, and a third retention clip (e.g. see rejection above) . Regarding claim 6: W herein the first retention clip (e.g. the 1st clip as stated above ) comprises a clip tab (e.g. 8 ) formed therein. Regarding claim 7: W herein the clip tab (e.g. 8 ) is canted into the cavity and configured to engage the rib. Regarding claim 8: W herein the first retention clip (e.g. the 1st clip) and the third retention clip (e.g. the 3rd clip as stated above) are configured to pinch, scrape, dig into, or otherwise grip the rib to mitigate pullout. Regarding claim 9: W herein the first retention clip (e.g. the 1st clip) and the second retention clip (e.g. the 2nd clip as stated above) cooperate to define a flared opening (e.g. flared opening receiving 100) to the cavity configured to guide a distal end of the rib into the cavity. Regarding claim 10: W herein the retainer is a stamped retainer clip (e.g. see 0016, states metallic plate of single piece, the method of stamped is considered to be product by process limitation and given little or no patentable weight in an apparatus when the retainer is made of resilient single piece of metal, see MPEP 2113-2114 regarding method limitation) . Regarding claim 11 : Shinomiya discloses a retainer assembly to couple a first component having an opening to a second component having a rib, the retainer assembly comprising a male fastener configured to pass at least partially through the opening formed in the first component , a retainer having a body portion, one or more tabs, and a plurality of retention clips, wherein a female fastener is formed in the body portion and is configured to receive the male fastener , wherein the plurality of retention clips is resiliently coupled to the body portion, wherein the one or more tabs and at least one of the plurality of retention clips cooperate to define a cavity configured to receive the rib, and wherein the plurality of retention clips is arranged to engage and retain the rib within the cavity (see rejection of claims above) . Regarding claim 12: W herein the female fastener is shaped as a collar with a plurality of grooves formed on an inner sidewall surface thereof (see rejection of claim 2) . Regarding claim 13 : W herein the body portion defines a set of shoulders configured to engage a doghouse structure (e.g. see rejection of claim 3) . Regarding claim 14 : W herein the plurality of retention clips comprises a first retention clip, a second retention clip, and a third retention clip (e.g. see rejection of claim 1 and 4) . Regarding claim 15: W herein the first retention clip comprises a clip tab (e.g. 8) that is canted into the cavity and configured to engage the rib (see rejection of claim 5) . Regarding claim 16: W herein the first retention clip and the third retention clip are configured to pinch, scrape, dig into, or otherwise grip the rib to mitigate pullout (e.g. see rejection of claim 6) . Regarding claim 17 : W herein the first retention clip and the second retention clip cooperate to define a flared opening to the cavity configured to guide a distal end of the rib into the cavity (see rejection of claim 7) . Regarding claim 18: W herein the retainer is a stamped retainer clip (see rejection of claim 8) . Regarding claim 1 9 : A retainer to couple a first component to a second component having a rib via a male fastener, the retainer comprising a body portion having formed therein a female fastener, wherein the female fastener is shaped as a collar with a plurality of grooves formed on an inner sidewall surface thereof and configured to receive the male fastener , one or more tabs coupled to the body portion , and a first retention clip, a second retention clip, and a third retention clip resiliently coupled to the body portion to define a cavity, wherein the first retention clip and the third retention clip are configured to pinch, scrape, dig into, or otherwise grip the rib to mitigate pullout, and wherein the first retention clip and the second retention clip cooperate to define a flared opening to the cavity configured to guide a distal end of the rib into the cavity (see rejection of claims above) . Regarding claim 20: W herein the body portion defines a set of shoulders configured to engage a doghouse structure (see rejection of claims 1-18) . Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. No claims are allowable in view of prior art. A discussion about what the invention and what structure is different would be helpful, applicant and/or applicants’ representative can contact the examiner. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT VISHAL A PATEL whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-7060 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT 7:00 am to 4:00pm . 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. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Christine Mills can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT 571-272-8322 . 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. /VISHAL A PATEL/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3675
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 15, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 02, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12601404
Internally clamping rectangular seal
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12590634
Piston Seal Ring Bypass
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 31, 2026
Patent 12584556
SLIDING MEMBER
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12569962
HIGH PRESSURE LIQUID-JET SEAL ASSEMBLY CARRIAGE
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12560239
SLIDING COMPONENTS
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 24, 2026
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
59%
Grant Probability
81%
With Interview (+21.7%)
3y 1m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 820 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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