Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 15, 2026
Application No. 18/617,809

Tarpaulin Side Cover

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Mar 27, 2024
Examiner
HAWK, NOAH CHANDLER
Art Unit
3636
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Dutch Clips LLC
OA Round
2 (Final)
62%
Grant Probability
Moderate
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
84%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 62% of resolved cases
62%
Career Allowance Rate
960 granted / 1562 resolved
+9.5% vs TC avg
Strong +22% interview lift
Without
With
+22.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 11m
Avg Prosecution
60 currently pending
Career history
1625
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.7%
-39.3% vs TC avg
§103
42.4%
+2.4% vs TC avg
§102
32.1%
-7.9% vs TC avg
§112
23.9%
-16.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1562 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 . Specification The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: The use of the term “xenon”, which is a trade name or a mark used in commerce, has been noted in this application. The term should be accompanied by the generic terminology; furthermore the term should be capitalized wherever it appears or, where appropriate, include a proper symbol indicating use in commerce such as ™, SM , or ® following the term. It is suggested that the applicant utilize the trademarked term “Xenon Sil” or remove the trade name altogether and refer to the fabric used in the device by generic terms such as polyester or nylon. Although the use of trade names and marks used in commerce (i.e., trademarks, service marks, certification marks, and collective marks) are permissible in patent applications, the proprietary nature of the marks should be respected and every effort made to prevent their use in any manner which might adversely affect their validity as commercial marks. Amended Paragraph 00020 now reads “Each of the support bars 32 of the plurality of support bars 32 are positioned between the outer surface and inner surface of both Each support bar 32 extends along the first panel 10 and the second panel 20” which is grammatically incorrect. Correction is required. Amended Paragraphs 0040 and 0041 now read “is between 20 denier and 30 deniers of polyester or nylon are formed from a polyester or nylon fabric having a denier between 20 and 30” which is grammatically incorrect. Correction is required. Amended Paragraph 0042 now reads “each support bar 32 is threaded through and between the outer surface and inner surface of extends along the first panel 10 and the second panel 20” which is grammatically incorrect. Correction is required. Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 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. Claims 10 and 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. Claim 10 recites “the tarpaulin side cover assembly of claim 9” which renders the claim indefinite. Claim 9 has been cancelled. Claim 10 recites “the receiving passageway” in line 2, “the cover panel” in lines 2-3, and “the first panel” in line 3 which renders the claim indefinite. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim. Claim 10 has multiple sentences within the claim, as the text of Claim 1 has been appended to the end of original Claim 1 without appropriate revisions to the claim. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 10 and 11 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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. Conclusion 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 NOAH C. HAWK whose telephone number is (571)272-1480. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am to 5:30pm. 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, David Dunn can be reached at 5712726670. 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. NOAH C. HAWK Primary Examiner Art Unit 3636 /Noah C. Hawk/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3636
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 27, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 09, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jul 09, 2026
Response Filed
Jul 22, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

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

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
62%
Grant Probability
84%
With Interview (+22.2%)
1y 11m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1562 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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