Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/636,815

Truck Bed Corner Reinforcement

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Apr 16, 2024
Examiner
ACOSTA, ERIC LAZARUS
Art Unit
3644
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Leer Group
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 4m
To Grant
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allow Rate
147 granted / 169 resolved
+35.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+8.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
198
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
47.6%
+7.6% vs TC avg
§102
32.3%
-7.7% vs TC avg
§112
19.5%
-20.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 169 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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Stibich et al. (US 20210237807 A1). Regarding Claim 19, Stibich teaches a reinforcement bracket system configured to attach to a corner of a cargo box (Fig. 1 element 12) of a truck to reinforce at least a portion of the cargo box, the reinforcement bracket system comprising: at least one reinforcement bracket assembly configured to attach to a portion of a sidewall and to a portion of a bulkhead (Fig. 1 bracket assembly attached to elements 14/16 and 18), the at least one reinforcement bracket assembly includes: a reinforcement bracket that has a first angled portion (Fig. 1 element 26) configured to be attached to the sidewall of the cargo box, a second angled portion (Fig. 1 element 22) extending transverse to the first angled portion and configured to be secured to the bulkhead of the cargo box, and a top angled portion extending transverse to the first angled portion and configured to be located on the sidewall (Fig. 1 element 30). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-18 allowed. Claim 20 is 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. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ERIC ACOSTA whose telephone number is (571)272-4886. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm. 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, Timothy Collins can be reached at 571-272-6886. 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. /E.A./Examiner, Art Unit 3644 /Nicholas McFall/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3644
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 16, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 12, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Mar 07, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12600464
CAVITY ACOUSTIC TONES SUPPRESSION
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12600457
AIRCRAFT WINGS
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12593922
SEAT ARMREST
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12570411
Seat System and Cabin Area for Use in a Crew Escape System of a Space Transport Vehicle
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12565319
PILOT SEAT ARMREST ASSEMBLY WITH SYNCHRONOUS LIFT AND TILT ADJUSTMENT
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 03, 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
87%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+8.2%)
2y 4m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 169 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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