Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/515,209

VEHICLE COVERING SHELF FIXTURE APPARATUS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Nov 20, 2023
Priority
Dec 01, 2022 — RE 10-2022-0165933
Examiner
DOUGLAS, STEVEN O
Art Unit
3612
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Seoyon E-Hwa Co. Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
79%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
6m
Est. Remaining
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 79% — above average
79%
Career Allowance Rate
1239 granted / 1569 resolved
+27.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+11.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
16 currently pending
Career history
1578
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.2%
-37.8% vs TC avg
§103
43.5%
+3.5% vs TC avg
§102
12.8%
-27.2% vs TC avg
§112
15.6%
-24.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1569 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)(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. Claim(s) 1, 6, 8, 11, 17 and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Ford Global (DE 20 2018 100 014, wherein after DE’014). The DE’014 reference discloses a vehicle (see Figure 1) comprising a luggage side trims (proximate reference numeral 200 in Figures 4A and 4B) on both sides of a storage space 115, a covering shelf 110 with first grooves (proximate reference numeral 300 in Figure 4B) on both sides that engage first hinges (see unnumbered hinge/peg in Figure 4B) on the luggage side trims and fixing means (see the complementary shape between the covering shelf 110 and the luggage side trim in Figure 4A and 7A), as claimed. In regard to claim 6, the shape of the luggage side trims have integral protrusion proximate reference numeral 230 in Figure 4A. In regard to claims 8 and 20, the reinforcing portion is defined by the rectangular shaped bump out proximate the bottom right portion of the covering shelf in Figure 7A. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The Yoon et al., Choi et al. and Saleem et al. references pertain to various covering shelf arrangements with similarities to that of Applicant’s. Claims 2-5, 7, 9, 10,12-16,18 and 19 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 of record, with the applied DE’014 reference pertaining to the closest prior art device, alone or in combination, teach Applicant’s invention of a vehicle with associated luggage side trims and covering shelf inclusive of details regarding a second hinge protrusion and second hinge grooves at a rear end of the covering shelf, or a fixing means on the luggage side trim and covering shelf being respective magnetic bodies and material to adhere thereto, as claimed. To modify the closest prior art to have such features would involve teachings gleaned only from the instant Application for patent. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STEVEN O DOUGLAS whose telephone number is (571)272-4885. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 5:30-4:00 EST. 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, Amy Weisberg can be reached at 571-270-5500. 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. /STEVEN O DOUGLAS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3612
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 20, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 11, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12637014
INSERTS FOR BASE PLATE WITH APERTURES
3y 3m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12637148
VEHICLE CARGO STORAGE APPARATUS
2y 8m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12630066
OVERLOAD PROTECTION SYSTEM
2y 8m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12623729
VEHICLE TAILGATE WITH SHINGLED DOOR SUBASSEMBLY
2y 7m to grant Granted May 12, 2026
Patent 12617473
VEHICLE BODY FLOOR STRUCTURE
2y 4m to grant Granted May 05, 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
79%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (+11.2%)
3y 1m (~6m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1569 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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