Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/565,137

ELECTRICALLY INSULATING COATING FOR ANISOTROPIC ELECTRICAL STEEL

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Nov 29, 2023
Examiner
ZHENG, LOIS L
Art Unit
1733
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Public Joint-Stock Company "Novolipetsk Steel"
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
68%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 9m
To Grant
81%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 68% — above average
68%
Career Allow Rate
500 granted / 739 resolved
+2.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +13% lift
Without
With
+13.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 9m
Avg Prosecution
41 currently pending
Career history
780
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.4%
-39.6% vs TC avg
§103
55.2%
+15.2% vs TC avg
§102
20.9%
-19.1% vs TC avg
§112
13.4%
-26.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 739 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
CTNF 18/565,137 CTNF 80451 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. 12-151 AIA 26-51 12-51 Status of Claims Claim 1 is currently under examination. 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 Claim 1 is 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. Claim 1 recites “aluminum and magnesium phosphate”. It is unclear if scope of “aluminum and magnesium phosphate” includes “aluminum” and “magnesium phosphate” or “aluminum phosphate” and “magnesium phosphate”. Additionally, claim 1 recites “Al and Mg phosphates” in a component ratio of 20-40wt%. It is not clear if the 20-40 wt% is directed to a total amount of “Al” and “Mg phosphate” or a total amount of “Al phosphate” and “Mg phosphate”. Furthermore, claim 1 recites “SiO 2 concentrations of 10-30%”, without indicating if the “%” is a wt% or vol%. Furthermore, claim 1 recites “Zirconium silicate (ZrSiO 4 ) modifying additive”, which may have a meaning of “zirconium silicate acting as a modifying additive” or “an additive that modifies zirconium silicate”. Furthermore, claim 1 recites “Potassium orthovanadate (K 3 VO 4 ) modifying additive”, which may have a meaning of “potassium orthovanadate acting as a modifying additive” or “an additive that modifies potassium orthovanadate”. Furthermore, claim 1 recites “Vanadyl hydrogen phosphate (VOHPO 4 ) modifying additive”, which may have a meaning of “vanadyl hydrogen phosphate acting as a modifying additive” or “an additive that modifies vanadyl hydrogen phosphate”. Furthermore, claim 1 recites “Manganese oxide-hydroxide (MnO(OH)) modifying additive”, which may have a meaning of “manganese oxide-hydroxide acting as a modifying additive” or “an additive that modifies manganese oxide-hydroxide”. For all the reasons set forth above, the instant claim 1 is vague and indefinite. Allowable Subject Matter Claim 1 is free of prior art rejection. 13-03-01 AIA The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The closest prior art is Bohm et al. US 2014/0272399(Bohm). Bohm teaches an electrically insulating coating composition for grain oriented steel strip[0020], which comprises metal phosphate, such as aluminum phosphate and magnesium phosphate, in an amount of 25-35wt%[0019], silica particles in an amount of 20-60wt%[0022], and corrosion inhibitors such zirconium silicate and a vanadate such as sodium metavanadate, wherein the corrosion inhibitor is present in an amount of 0.1-1wt%[0028]. However, Bohm does not teach or fairly suggest, either alone or in combination, an electrically insulting coating composition that additionally contain vanadyl hydrogen phosphate and manganese oxide-hydroxide. Bohm also does not teach, either alone or in combination, that the silica is present in the form of a silica sol with SiO 2 concentration of 10%-30%. Additionally, the sodium metavanadate as taught by Bohm is different from the claimed potassium orthovanadate . Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LOIS L ZHENG whose telephone number is (571)272-1248. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:15-4:45. 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, Keith Hendricks can be reached at 571-272-1401. 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. LOIS ZHENG Primary Examiner Art Unit 1733 /LOIS L ZHENG/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1733 Application/Control Number: 18/565,137 Page 2 Art Unit: 1733 Application/Control Number: 18/565,137 Page 3 Art Unit: 1733 Application/Control Number: 18/565,137 Page 4 Art Unit: 1733
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 29, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 21, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
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ALUMINUM COATED BLANK AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF
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Patent 12522939
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Patent 12503742
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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
68%
Grant Probability
81%
With Interview (+13.4%)
3y 9m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 739 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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