Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/607,673

BOLT CARRIER MOVEMENT MECHANISM PROVIDING PRIMARY EXTRACTION FORCE MULTIPLICATION, FIREARMS COMPRISING SAME, KITS FOR CONSTRUCTING FIREARMS COMPRISING SAME, AND BOLT CARRIER GROUPS FOR ENABLING SAME

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Mar 18, 2024
Examiner
ELDRED, JOHN W
Art Unit
3641
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Ares Defense Systems, Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
77%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 3m
To Grant
85%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 77% — above average
77%
Career Allow Rate
767 granted / 992 resolved
+25.3% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+7.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
22 currently pending
Career history
1014
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.7%
-39.3% vs TC avg
§103
44.1%
+4.1% vs TC avg
§102
14.8%
-25.2% vs TC avg
§112
15.7%
-24.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 992 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 . 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 1-29 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being clearly anticipated by WO2203/146956 (Bond). Bond discloses a firearm comprising all claimed elements including a bolt carrier (62,Fig.2,6A-8C; para[O0050],'A bolt carrier assembly 18, including a bolt carrier 62 and a bolt subassembly 64, is received in the upper frame and is operable to reciprocate between an open position and a closed position’; an impingement body having at least one impingement surface (Fig.2,6A-6G-see impingement body defined by the first link 30 mounting location on the lower receiver/frame 20, said impingement body having an impingement surface that mounts the left end of the first link 30 to the lower receiver, and note how the impingement body enables the first link 30 to pivot and contributes in the leverage provided by the elongated channel 50 of the first link 30 during the pivoting motion; para[0052], 'A first link 30 is pivotally connected to lower frame 20’; para[0055], ‘elongated channel 50 is configured to provide greater leverage for a given lever force when the action lever is in an initial phase of operation from the extended position to an intermediate position (Figs.6C-D) than from past the intermediate position to the retracted position (Figs.6E-G)’); a primary extraction leverage member (30,32,Fig.2,6A-8C; para[0052], 'A first link 30 is pivotally connected to lower frame 20. A second link 32 is pivotally connected to bolt carrier assembly 18. In the current embodiment, the first link and second link are pivotally interconnected to each other’; para[00551, ‘elongated channel 50 is configured to provide greater leverage for a given lever force when the action lever is in an initial phase of operation from the extended position to an intermediate position (Figs.6C-D) than from past the intermediate position to the retracted position (Figs.6E-G). The elongated channel is also configured to provide greater leverage when bolt carrier assembly 18 is initially stripping a cartridge from the magazine (Fig.6D) then when the cartridge is being chambered (Figs.6E-G)’) having a coupler mounting portion (34,Fig.2,6A-8C, LOC- see coupler mounting portion defined by the cam path 34, said cam path 34 engaged by the cam follower 36 of the action control structure coupler 102; para[0052], "The first link defines cam path 34. Cam follower 36 on action lever 26 is operably engaged to the cam path such that movement of the action lever between the retracted position and the extended position generates movement of the bolt carrier assembly between the closed position and the open position’), an impingement member portion (Fig.2,6A-6G-see impingement member portion defined by the left end of the first link 30, said impingement member portion pivotally mounted to the impingement body defined by the lower frame/receiver 20, and note how the impingement member portion enables the first link 30 to pivot and contributes in the leverage provided by the elongated channel 50 of the first link 30 during the pivoting motion; para[0052], 'A first link 30 is pivotally connected to lower frame 20’; para[0055], ‘elongated channel 50 is configured to provide greater leverage for a given lever force when the action lever is in an initial phase of operation from the extended position to an intermediate position (Figs.6C-D) than from past the intermediate position to the retracted position (Figs.6E-G)'), and a bolt carrier mounting portion (76,Fig.2,6A-8C-see bolt carrier mounting portion 76 mounted within the transverse bore 68 of the bolt carrier 62; para[0060], ‘the bolt carrier portion of bolt carrier assembly 18 defines a transverse bore 68 ... The second link includes a transverse pin 76 closely received in the transverse bore’), wherein the primary extraction leverage member is engaged at the bolt carrier mounting portion thereof with the bolt carrier for enabling the primary extraction leverage member to pivot about a pivot axis extending through the bolt carrier mounting portion (68,76,Fig.2,6A-8C-see how the primary extraction leverage member 30/32 is engaged at the bolt carrier mounting portion 76 thereof with the bolt carrier 62, via bore 68, for enabling the primary extraction leverage member 30/32 to pivot about a pivot axis extending through the bolt carrier mounting portion 76; para[0060], ‘the bolt carrier portion of bolt carrier assembly 18 defines a transverse bore 68...The second link includes a transverse pin 76 closely received in the transverse bore’), wherein the impingement member portion of the primary extraction leverage member is adjacent to the at least one impingement surface of the impingement body and includes at least one impingement member (Fig.2,GA-6G-see how the impingement member portion, defined by the left end of the first link 30, is adjacent to the impingement surface of the impingement body, defined by the lower receiver/frame 20, with the two components mounted to each other, and see how the impingement member portion includes an impingement member forming a circular aperture for receiving a mounting pin); and an action control structure coupler engaged with the coupler mounting portion of the primary extraction leverage member (102,Fig.1-2,6A-6G-see action control structure coupler 102 engaged with the coupler mounting portion 34 of the primary extraction leverage member 30/32 via the cam follower 36; para[0051], ‘Rear portion 96 of the action lever is removably connected by dovetail joints 98 and setscrews 100 to a forward portion 102 that includes a cam follower 36’; para[0052], "The first link defines cam path 34. Cam follower 36 on action lever 26 is operably engaged to the cam path such that movement of the action lever between the retracted position and the extended position generates movement of the bolt carrier assembly between the closed position and the open position') (Note: see Box VII). Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to J. WOODROW ELDRED whose telephone number is (571)272-6901. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00-5:30. 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, Troy Chambers can be reached at 571-272-6874. 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. /J. Woodrow Eldred/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3641 JWE
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 18, 2024
Application Filed
Dec 11, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Dec 22, 2025
Response Filed

Precedent Cases

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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
77%
Grant Probability
85%
With Interview (+7.8%)
2y 3m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 992 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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