Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/528,785

VEHICLE LOWER BODY STRUCTURE

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Dec 05, 2023
Priority
Jan 31, 2023 — JP 2023-013596
Examiner
MORROW, JASON S
Art Unit
3612
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Toyota Motor Corporation
OA Round
2 (Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
1184 granted / 1406 resolved
+32.2% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+10.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 11m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
1431
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
§103
49.2%
+9.2% vs TC avg
§102
21.6%
-18.4% vs TC avg
§112
27.3%
-12.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1406 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
CTFR 18/528,785 CTFR 74434 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia 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 § 112 07-30-02 AIA The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. 07-34-01 Claims 1 and 4-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. In claim 1, lines 12 and 13, the phrase, “ the inner upper-wall cover portion being fastened to the rocker” is indefinite. It is unclear if the claim language requires a fastener or not. The claim previously claimed “the floor panel being mechanically fastened by fasteners”, however this limitation was removed with the addition of subject matter previously indicated as allowable. 07-34-05 AIA Claim 9 recites the limitation " the fasteners " in line 1 . There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Allowable Subject Matter 07-43-02 AIA Claim s 1 and 4-11 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion 07-40 AIA Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL . See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Jason S Morrow whose telephone number is (571)272-6663. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.. 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, Vivek Koppikar can be reached at (571) 272-5109. 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. /JASON S MORROW/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3612 June 11, 2026 Application/Control Number: 18/528,785 Page 2 Art Unit: 3612 Application/Control Number: 18/528,785 Page 3 Art Unit: 3612 Application/Control Number: 18/528,785 Page 4 Art Unit: 3612
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 05, 2023
Application Filed
Jan 13, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Apr 02, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 16, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12680356
Door Hinge
3y 5m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12673775
SEAT CONSOLE WITH ERGONOMICALLY POSITIONED CABLE-ACTUATED PASSENGER CONTROL UNIT
3y 1m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12668199
INSULATING ELEMENT
3y 5m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12668309
ROCKER STRUCTURE
2y 6m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12655651
REAR VEHICLE BUCKET EQUIPMENT CAPABLE OF LIFTING AND CARRYING ROOF TENT
3y 4m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
84%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+10.9%)
1y 11m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1406 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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