Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/519,765

CLOTHES TREATING SYSTEM

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Nov 27, 2023
Examiner
PERRIN, JOSEPH L
Art Unit
1711
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
77%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 0m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 77% — above average
77%
Career Allow Rate
974 granted / 1263 resolved
+12.1% vs TC avg
Strong +22% interview lift
Without
With
+22.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
36 currently pending
Career history
1299
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
§103
39.7%
-0.3% vs TC avg
§102
27.2%
-12.8% vs TC avg
§112
25.8%
-14.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1263 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. Priority Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) filed 27 November 2023 fails to comply with 37 CFR 1.98(a)(3) ( i ) because it does not include a concise explanation of the relevance, as it is presently understood by the individual designated in 37 CFR 1.56(c) most knowledgeable about the content of the information, of each reference listed that is not in the English language. The foreign references without a statement of relevancy (e.g. English abstract or translation ) have been lined through. The IDS has been placed in the application file, but the information referred to therein has not been considered. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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 ( i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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. 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. (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 and 11-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by KR 10-2021-0087897 to Kim (machine translation provided by Examiner) . Regarding claims 1 and 11 -16 , Kim discloses a clothes treating system comprising: a first clothes treating apparatus (100) including: a circuitry module to control the first clothes treating apparatus, the circuitry module including: a circuitry case (structure surrounding the circuit board) , and a connection circuit board mounted inside the circuitry case (see printed circuit board on p. 13, l. 19 of translation) , and a control panel (110) to cover the circuitry module, wherein the connection circuit board is configured to be connectable by wire (181a, see Fig. 9) to a second clothes treating apparatus (300) positioned at one side of the first clothes treating apparatus, and the circuitry module is configured to control the first clothes treating apparatus and the second clothes treating apparatus when the second clothes treating apparatus is connected to the first clothes treating apparatus (see Fig. 5 and associated text on p. 7; note control panel 110 being used to control both washing machine 100 and dryer 300) , wherein the circuitry module is disposed at the one side of the first clothes treating apparatus close to the second clothes treating apparatus when the second clothes treating apparatus is connected to the first clothes treating apparatus (see Figs. 1-2) , wherein the control panel is disposed on a front surface of the first clothes treating apparatus, and the circuitry module is disposed at a rear of the control panel (see Figs. 1-2 and above regarding circuit board mounted to rear of control panel 110) , wherein the second clothes treating apparatus is mounted above the first clothes treating apparatus (see Fig. 2) , wherein the first clothes treating apparatus is a washing machine, and the second clothes treating apparatus is a dryer (see Figs. 1-2 and associated text) , wherein the control panel includes: an input interface configured to receive a user input (see user input of control panel 110 at p. 4, ¶ 9 of translation) , and an output interface configured to display visualized information related to the first clothes treating apparatus, and visualized information related to the second clothes treating apparatus when the second clothes treating apparatus is connected to the first clothes treating apparatus (see display of control panel 110 at p. 4, ¶ 9 of translation) , further comprising: the second clothes treating apparatus (see above and Figs. 1-2) . Allowable Subject Matter Claim s 2-10 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. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT JOSEPH L PERRIN whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-1305 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT M-F 7:30-4:00 . 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 Michael E. Barr can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT 571-272-1414 . 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. FILLIN "Examiner Stamp" \* MERGEFORMAT Joseph L. Perrin, Ph.D. Primary Examiner Art Unit 1711 /Joseph L. Perrin/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1711
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 27, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 22, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12601099
DISPENSER ASSEMBLY FOR A LAUNDRY TREATMENT APPLIANCE
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12595617
LAUNDRY APPLIANCE HAVING AN IMPELLER WITH A REMOVABLE FILTRATION STRUCTURE
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12595615
WASHING MACHINE
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12590397
INDUSTRIAL LAUNDRY SYSTEMS AND METHODS
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 31, 2026
Patent 12584257
LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE WITH SPIRAL VARIABLE LENGTH AGITATOR
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 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
77%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+22.4%)
3y 0m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1263 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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