Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/632,716

STRUCTURE FOR QUICKLY ASSEMBLING HANDLE OF DRAW-BAR CASE

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Apr 11, 2024
Examiner
MAI, TRI M
Art Unit
3733
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Jerry Moon
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
36%
Grant Probability
At Risk
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 2m
To Grant
57%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants only 36% of cases
36%
Career Allow Rate
521 granted / 1440 resolved
-33.8% vs TC avg
Strong +21% interview lift
Without
With
+20.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 2m
Avg Prosecution
49 currently pending
Career history
1489
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
§103
65.1%
+25.1% vs TC avg
§102
18.7%
-21.3% vs TC avg
§112
6.6%
-33.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1440 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 . Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Le Tinnier (8641116) in view of Browne et al. (7631915) and further in view of Tiramani (6502677). PNG media_image1.png 457 392 media_image1.png Greyscale PNG media_image2.png 351 466 media_image2.png Greyscale PNG media_image3.png 533 724 media_image3.png Greyscale Le Tinnier teaches a structure for quickly assembling a handle of a draw-bar case, a plurality of handle assemblies disposed, the handle assemblies include a handle (12), two symmetrically disposed handle retaining brackets (2), the handle is assembled between the handle retaining brackets, two opposite end surfaces of the handle retaining bracket are provided with a first inclined surface (37) and a second inclined surface (37) respectively, the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are each provided with a position-limiting slot (35 fig. 1), a surface of the case body is provided with a clamping groove (20) that is disposed corresponding to the handle retaining bracket, and the clamping groove is matched with the handle retaining bracket and two opposite side walls of the clamping groove are each provided with an inverted buckle (part that fit into 37, fig. 11) that is snap-fitted onto the position-limiting slot. Le Tinnier meets all claimed limitations except for the use in a luggage. Tiramani teaches that it is known in the art to provide handle on a luggage. it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to provide the device of Le Tinnier on the luggage of Tiramani to enable one provide or manufacture a handle on a luggage quickly and efficiently. Browne further teaches that it is known in the art to provide a vehicle handle to be used in luggage. “The self-presenting devices can be employed in other applications such as, without limitation, luggage, shipping containers, and the like, where a permanently affixed, protruding handle could advantageously be replaced by the self-presenting handle disclosed herein.” It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to provide the device of Le Tinnier on a luggage of Tiramani as taught by Browne to enable one to manufacture a handle on a luggage quickly. Claims 2-6 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TRI M MAI whose telephone number is (571)272-4541. The examiner can normally be reached 8am-5pm (Mon-Friday). 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, Nathan Jenness can be reached at (571) 270-5055. 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. TRI M. MAI Examiner Art Unit 3733 /TRI M MAI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3733
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Prosecution Timeline

Apr 11, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 22, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12582579
PREMATURE INFANT PACIFIER
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12569042
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MOBILE OFFICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12564250
SPLIT HANDLE, NARROW ROLLING BAG
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 03, 2026
Patent 12550986
Fashion Carry Bag Assembly with Detachable Purse
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 17, 2026
Patent 12544315
INFANT FEEDER
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 10, 2026
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
36%
Grant Probability
57%
With Interview (+20.9%)
3y 2m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1440 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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