Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/523,439

ENERGY EFFICIENT PUMP AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Nov 29, 2023
Priority
Dec 01, 2022 — provisional 63/429,475
Examiner
BERTHEAUD, PETER JOHN
Art Unit
3746
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Shape Technologies Group Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
4m
Est. Remaining
86%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allowance Rate
815 granted / 1045 resolved
+8.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+8.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
1065
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
§103
59.3%
+19.3% vs TC avg
§102
21.7%
-18.3% vs TC avg
§112
15.3%
-24.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1045 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION Election/Restrictions Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I, claims 1-11, 14-20, 34-40, and 44, in the reply filed on 4/13/2026 is acknowledged. Thus, claims 12-13, 21-33, and 41-43 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. 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. Claims 1, 2, 7, and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Yoder 6,135,719. Yoder discloses, regarding claim 1, a fluid pressurization system (see Fig. 2) comprising: a hydraulic pressure chamber 66; a piston 70 positioned within an interior cavity of the hydraulic pressure chamber 66; a pump 50 that conveys a hydraulic fluid into a portion of the interior cavity of the pressure chamber 66, wherein entry of the hydraulic fluid into the portion of the interior cavity moves the piston 70 within the interior cavity; a motor 48 coupled to the pump 50 such that output from the motor 48 drives the pump resulting in conveyance of the hydraulic fluid to the portion of the interior cavity; a hydraulic fluid flow rate sensor 92 positioned to detect a change in flow rate of the hydraulic fluid, and generate a signal in response to the detected change (see col. 12, lines 6-19); and a controller 36/42 communicatively coupled to the hydraulic fluid flow rate sensor 92 and to the motor 48 such that the controller varies a rotational speed of the motor 48 in response to receiving the signal generated in response to the detected change (see col. 12, lines 6-19); Re claim 2, a working fluid pressure vessel 82 positioned relative to the hydraulic pressure chamber 66 such that at least a portion of a plunger 76 carried by the piston 70 is positioned within a bore of the working fluid pressure vessel 82, wherein movement of the piston 70 within the interior cavity moves the plunger 76 within the bore, thereby compressing a working fluid positioned within the bore (clearly shown in Fig. 2); Re claim 7, wherein the portion of the interior cavity 66 is a first portion, and the fluid pressurization system further comprises: a second portion of the interior cavity (clearly shown in Fig. 2), wherein movement of the piston 70 in a first direction within the interior cavity expels hydraulic fluid from the second portion (this is clearly the case); Re claim 8, further comprising: a switcher 46 that transitions from a first configuration, in which the pump conveys the hydraulic fluid into the first portion of the interior cavity 66, to a second configuration, in which the pump conveys the hydraulic fluid into the second portion of the interior cavity 66, wherein entry of the hydraulic fluid into the second portion of the interior cavity 66 moves the piston 70 in a second direction within the interior cavity that is opposite the first direction. Claims 1, 2, and 7-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Oklejas, Jr. 10,138,877 (Oklejas hereafter). Oklejas discloses, regarding claim 1, a fluid pressurization system (see Figs. 2-3) comprising: a hydraulic pressure chamber 12; a piston 14 positioned within an interior cavity of the hydraulic pressure chamber 12; a pump 96 that conveys a hydraulic fluid into a portion of the interior cavity of the pressure chamber 12, wherein entry of the hydraulic fluid into the portion of the interior cavity moves the piston 14 within the interior cavity; a motor coupled to the pump 96 such that output from the motor drives the pump resulting in conveyance of the hydraulic fluid to the portion of the interior cavity (this is clearly the case, see Fig. 1); a hydraulic fluid flow rate sensor 220 positioned to detect a change in flow rate of the hydraulic fluid, and generate a signal in response to the detected change (see col. 5, lines 31-45); and a controller 210 communicatively coupled to the hydraulic fluid flow rate sensor 220 and to the motor (of pump 96) such that the controller varies a rotational speed of the motor in response to receiving the signal generated in response to the detected change (see col. 5, lines 31-45); Re claim 2, a working fluid pressure vessel 42 positioned relative to the hydraulic pressure chamber 12 such that at least a portion of a plunger 52 carried by the piston 14 is positioned within a bore of the working fluid pressure vessel 42, wherein movement of the piston 14 within the interior cavity moves the plunger 52 within the bore, thereby compressing a working fluid positioned within the bore (clearly shown in Figs. 2-3); Re claim 7, wherein the portion of the interior cavity 12 is a first portion, and the fluid pressurization system further comprises: a second portion of the interior cavity (clearly shown in Fig. 2), wherein movement of the piston 14 in a first direction within the interior cavity expels hydraulic fluid from the second portion (this is clearly the case); Re claim 8, further comprising: a switcher 80 that transitions from a first configuration, in which the pump conveys the hydraulic fluid into the first portion of the interior cavity 12, to a second configuration, in which the pump conveys the hydraulic fluid into the second portion of the interior cavity 12, wherein entry of the hydraulic fluid into the second portion of the interior cavity 12 moves the piston 14 in a second direction within the interior cavity that is opposite the first direction; Re claim 9, wherein the hydraulic fluid flow rate sensor 220 is positioned between the pump 96 and the hydraulic pressure chamber 12 (clearly shown in Figs. 2-3); Re claim 10, wherein the hydraulic fluid flow rate sensor 220 is positioned between the pump 96 and the switcher 80 (clearly shown in Figs. 2-3); Re claim 11, wherein the hydraulic fluid flow rate sensor 220 is positioned between the pump 96 and the hydraulic pressure chamber 12 (clearly shown in Figs. 2-3). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 3-6 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. Claims 14-20, 34-40, and 44 are allowed. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Peter J Bertheaud whose telephone number is (571)272-3476. The examiner can normally be reached 9am - 5pm M-F. 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, Mark Laurenzi can be reached at 5712707878. 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. PJB /PETER J BERTHEAUD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3746
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 29, 2023
Application Filed
Jun 30, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

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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
78%
Grant Probability
86%
With Interview (+8.5%)
3y 0m (~4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1045 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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