Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/621,193

BONE CONDUCTION SPEAKER AND EARPHONE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Mar 29, 2024
Priority
Jun 15, 2018 — CN 201810623408.2 +3 more
Examiner
DABNEY, PHYLESHA LARVINIA
Art Unit
2694
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Shenzhen Shokz Co., Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
76%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
3m
Est. Remaining
91%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 76% — above average
76%
Career Allowance Rate
617 granted / 807 resolved
+14.5% vs TC avg
Moderate +15% lift
Without
With
+14.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
15 currently pending
Career history
819
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.6%
-38.4% vs TC avg
§103
41.5%
+1.5% vs TC avg
§102
35.7%
-4.3% vs TC avg
§112
11.6%
-28.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 807 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after allowance or after an Office action under Ex Parte Quayle, 25 USPQ 74, 453 O.G. 213 (Comm'r Pat. 1935). Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, prosecution in this application has been reopened pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed, has been entered. Claims 1, 3-15, 17-20 are pending. Specification The specification is objected to as failing to provide proper antecedent basis for the claimed subject matter. See 37 CFR 1.75(d)(1) and MPEP § 608.01(o). Correction of the following is required: With respect to claims 1 and 15, the claim recites “a face-attached” component. The specification does not provide support for this specific language (see para. 0085). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b), or 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. Claim(s) 1 and 15 is/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. With respect to claim 1 and 15 (see specification objection), it is not clear whether the recitations “face-attached” component is referring to a user’s body or direction (face) of the component relative to a reference point. Allowable Subject Matter Claim(s) 1 and 15 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. Further, claim 3-14, 17-20 include all the limitations of rejection base claims 1 and 15. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Hu, Jinxiang (CN 204425584 U) is an IDS reference pertinent and not relied upon has been disclosed in the Applicants IDS submitted 1/9/2026. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PHYLESHA DABNEY whose telephone number is (571)272-7494. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Wednesday and Friday 10:30-4:30PM. 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, Fan Tsang can be reached at 5712727547. 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. August 8, 2026 /PHYLESHA DABNEY/Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2694
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 29, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 16, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Mar 24, 2026
Response Filed
Jul 27, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Jul 29, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Aug 11, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12684300
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SUPPRESSING SOUND LEAKAGE
2y 10m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12684277
EARPHONES
2y 8m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12684282
Spatial Imaging on Audio Playback Devices
1y 4m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12672797
HEARING SCREENING AND AMPLIFICATION DEVICE
2y 9m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12671937
MINIATURE LOUDSPEAKER
2y 1m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
76%
Grant Probability
91%
With Interview (+14.9%)
2y 9m (~3m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 807 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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