Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/642,547

HITCH WITH DEFORMABLE STOPPER

Non-Final OA

Filed

Apr 22, 2024

Examiner

ENGLISH, JAMES A

Art Unit

3614

Tech Center

3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce

Assignee

Caterpillar Inc.

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +8.2% interview lift. Interview already conducted in this application's prosecution history. This examiner has a 81% grant rate with +8.2% interview lift. Since an interview has already been tried, recommend written response with narrowed claims based on precedent claim evolution patterns.

Based on 1159 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

ENGLISH, JAMES A View full profile →

Grants 81% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

941 granted / 1159 resolved

+29.2% vs TC avg

Moderate +8% lift

Without

With

+8.2%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Fast prosecutor

2y 0m

Avg Prosecution

22 currently pending

Career history

1171

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

0.3%

-39.7% vs TC avg

§103

84.4%

+44.4% vs TC avg

§102

4.6%

-35.4% vs TC avg

§112

9.7%

-30.3% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1159 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 22, 2024

Application Filed

Apr 22, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed

Jul 13, 2026

Examiner Interview Summary

Jul 13, 2026

Applicant Interview (Telephonic)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/025,006

Patent 12673724

WHEEL MODULE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

3y 4m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026

18/039,663

Patent 12673740

Electric Small-Sized Vehicle

3y 1m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026

18/113,021

Patent 12673528

HYDRAULIC CROSS-LINKED SUSPENSION

3y 4m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026

19/204,178

Patent 12668295

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR RETAINING A STEERING SHAFT

1y 1m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026

18/024,669

Patent 12655885

STEERING DEVICE

3y 3m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026

Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.

Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2

Expected OA Rounds

81%

Grant Probability

89%

With Interview (+8.2%)

2y 0m (~0m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 1159 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.