Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/517,004

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DEVICE

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Nov 22, 2023
Priority
Nov 23, 2022 — CN 202211471880.1
Examiner
PAUMEN, GARY F
Art Unit
2834
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Molex LLC
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allowance Rate
1741 granted / 1965 resolved
+20.6% vs TC avg
Minimal -2% lift
Without
With
+-1.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 8m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
1987
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.0%
-39.0% vs TC avg
§103
69.2%
+29.2% vs TC avg
§102
19.7%
-20.3% vs TC avg
§112
2.0%
-38.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1965 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 Objections Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: both instances of “connecting” should be – connected to --. Appropriate correction is required. 35 USC 102 Rejections 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) 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Shah et al 2014/0017928. Regarding claim 1, Shah et al (Figure 5) discloses an electrical connection device comprising: a plug connector comprising: a conductive body 70; an outer conductor 52 which has a rear end 52, at least one front latching portion 58 and at least one elastic piece 55, the rear end electrically connecting the conductive body, the front latching portion being opposite to the rear end and being positioned in front of the rear end, the elastic piece being positioned between the rear end and the front latching portion and connecting the front latching portion, at least one of the conductive body and the outer conductor being formed with a stopping surface, a position of the stopping surface corresponding to the elastic piece of the outer conductor and being close to the front latching portion; an insulative body 65 which is provided in the conductive body; and a central terminal 32 which is provided in the insulative body. Regarding claim 2, Shah et al discloses the elastic piece 55 is formed with the stopping surface. Regarding claim 3, Shah et al discloses the elastic piece 55 has a shoulder, the shoulder has a shoulder surface, the shoulder surface forms the stopping surface. Regarding claim 4, Shah et al discloses the conductive body 70 has an annular surrounding wall 78 which extends forwardly and surrounds the elastic piece 55, the annular surrounding wall has a front end surface, the front end surface forms the stopping surface. Regarding claim 5, Shah et al discloses the elastic piece 55 has a shoulder, the shoulder has a shoulder surface, the conductive body has an annular surrounding wall 78 which extends forwardly and surrounds the elastic piece, the annular surrounding wall has a front end surface, and the shoulder surface and the front end surface together form the stopping surface. Claims Defining Over Prior Art Claims 6-20 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 discloses or teaches the outer conductor is formed with at least one slit, the slit extends from the front latching portion to be close to the rear end, the slit has an opened portion which is positioned to the front latching portion and a closed portion which is opposite to the opened portion and closes to the rear end; nor the penetrating gap; nor the outer conductor and the conductive body being integrally formed and together constituting a single-piece component; nor a front end of the annular latch pressuring wall being deformed to bend inwardly and latch and press against the outer flange; nor the rear end, the elastic piece, and the outer flange are received in the annular channel, the front latching portion is exposed from the annular channel and protrudes from the front end of the first conductive member, and the outer flange is clamped by the first conductive member and the second conductive member; nor the rear end of the outer conductor, the elastic piece, and the outer flange are received in the annular channel, the front latching portion is exposed from the annular channel and protrudes from the front end of the first conductive member, and the outer flange is clamped by the first conductive member and the second conductive member; nor the rear end of the outer conductor is integrally connected to the first conductive member, the outer conductor and the first conductive member are integrally formed and together constitute a single-piece component; nor the outer conductor further has an inner flange which is connected to the rear end, the rear end, the elastic piece, and the inner flange are received in the annular channel, the front latching portion is exposed from the annular channel, and the inner flange snaps to the annular recessed groove and applies an elastic force to clamp the second conductive member; in combination with the rest of the subject matter of the independent claim and any intervening claims. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GARY F PAUMEN whose telephone number is (571)272-2013. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th. 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, Christopher Koehler can be reached at 571-272-3560. 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. /GARY F PAUMEN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 22, 2023
Application Filed
Dec 10, 2025
Non-Final Rejection (signed) — §102
Jan 13, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Mar 30, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Mar 30, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Apr 13, 2026
Response Filed

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12635726
COMPONENT FOR AN ARTICLE FOR USE IN A NON-COMBUSTIBLE AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM
3y 11m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12640505
INTEGRATED ELECTRICAL, LIGHTING, AND CHARGING SYSTEMS
2y 6m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12640515
ELECTRONIC CONTROL DEVICE
2y 9m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12633700
HIGH-POWER PLUG CONNECTOR
3y 2m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12633684
CONNECTOR DEVICE
2y 6m to grant Granted May 19, 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
89%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (-1.6%)
1y 8m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1965 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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