Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 17, 2026
Application No. 18/656,877

CONTAINER CAPABLE OF DISPLAYING INFORMATION

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
May 07, 2024
Examiner
CARROLL, JEREMY W
Art Unit
3754
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
unknown
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
75%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 3m
To Grant
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 75% — above average
75%
Career Allow Rate
511 granted / 684 resolved
+4.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+12.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
34 currently pending
Career history
718
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.4%
-39.6% vs TC avg
§103
40.0%
+0.0% vs TC avg
§102
24.7%
-15.3% vs TC avg
§112
25.6%
-14.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 684 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION 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)(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) 1- are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Tan (CN 107576365 A). Claim 1, Tan discloses a container body (10; FIG 4); a display (730; FIG 7), mounted on the container body; an attitude sensor (720), mounted in the container body; and a control circuit module (700), mounted in the container body and signally connected to the display and the attitude sensor, wherein the control circuit module (700) computes information based on measurement values of the attitude sensor and controls the display to show the information ([0048] to [0098]). Claim 2, Tan discloses wherein the control circuit module (700) computes the information based on an initial value ([0079] to [0085]; claim 9) and the measured values of the attitude sensor (Claim 1). Claim 3, Tan discloses wherein the initial value is a preset value ([0079] to [0085]). Claim 4, Tan discloses wherein the initial value is a measured value ([0079] to [0085]; claim 4). Claim 5. Tan discloses a liquid volume sensor; and the control circuit module signally connected with the liquid volume sensor to receive a measurement value therefrom, and the initial value corresponding to the measurement value of the liquid volume sensor ([0028]). Claim 6, Tan discloses wherein the information computed by the control circuit module (700) is a cumulative liquid-discharge volume; the control circuit module (700) obtains a liquid-discharge reference value based on the initial value and the measured value of the attitude sensor by a look-up table, and obtains a first liquid-discharge volume by integrating the liquid-discharge reference value over time; the control circuit module (700) subtracts the first liquid-discharge volume from the initial liquid volume to obtain an immediate liquid volume; the control circuit module (700) obtains a plurality of the liquid-discharge reference values by the look-up table based on the continuously updated immediate liquid volume and the measured value of the attitude sensor, and obtains a plurality of second liquid-discharge volumes by integrating the plurality of liquid-discharge reference values over time respectively; and the cumulative liquid-discharge volume is a sum of the first liquid-discharge volume and the plurality of second liquid-discharge volumes (FIG 4 and 7; [0048] to [0098]; The structure of Tan is capable of carrying out the claimed operation as during normal operation). Claim 7, Tan discloses wherein the information computed by the control circuit module (700) is a cumulative liquid-discharge volume; the control circuit module (700) obtains a liquid-discharge reference value based on the initial value and the measured value of the attitude sensor by a functional equation, and obtains a first liquid-discharge volume by integrating the liquid-discharge reference value over time; the control circuit module (700) subtracts the first liquid-discharge volume from the initial liquid volume to obtain an immediate liquid volume; the control circuit module (700) obtains a plurality of liquid-discharge reference values by the functional equation based on the continuously updated immediate liquid volume and the measured value of the attitude sensor, and obtains a plurality of second liquid-discharge volumes by integrating the plurality of liquid-discharge reference values over time respectively; the cumulative liquid-discharge volume is a sum of the first liquid-discharge volume and the plurality of second liquid-discharge volumes (FIG 4 and 7; [0048] to [0098]; The structure of Tan is capable of carrying out the claimed operation during normal operation). Claim 8, Tan discloses wherein the container body includes a grip portion (20) and a body portion (10); the liquid volume sensor is a load cell (pressure sensor 710 or mass sensor mounted on bottom) mounted in the grip portion and connected to the body portion. Claim 9, Tan discloses wherein the liquid volume sensor is a load cell (710) mounted on a base, and the container capable of displaying information is mounted on the base (20). Claim 10, Tan discloses wherein the container body includes a body portion (10; FIG 4); the liquid volume sensor is a liquid-level gauge mounted on a top side of the body portion and inside the body portion (710 Photoelectric liquid level sensor). Claim 11, Tan discloses wherein the control circuit module (700) is signally connected to an indicator (750; FIG 7); the control circuit module determines whether each one of the measurement values of the attitude sensor is greater than a corresponding threshold value, and when the measurement value of the attitude sensor is greater than the corresponding threshold value, the control circuit module drives the indicator to alert. Claim 12, Tan discloses wherein the control circuit module is electrically connected to a power unit of wired charging (780) or wireless charging. Claim 13, Tan discloses wherein the control circuit module establishes a connection with an electronic device through a wireless communication module for data transmission (740). Claim 14, Tan discloses wherein the control circuit module (700) drives the display (730) to show an elapsed time counted by a timer (RTC). Claim 15, Tan discloses wherein the control circuit module (700) is signally connected to an indicator (750; FIG 7), and the information computed by the control circuit module is a cumulative liquid-discharge volume; the control circuit module determines which of the cumulative liquid-discharge volume and at least one liquid flow threshold is higher and accordingly drives the indicator to output an alert mode. Claim 16, Tan discloses wherein when the control circuit module (700) determines that a time duration of the container (10) being put down reaches a threshold time, the control circuit module resets the initial value to zero ([0079] to [0085]). Claim 17, Tan discloses wherein the control circuit module (700) is signally connected to a switch component (740 connects with mobile phone or pad) to trigger a timer function (RTC). Claim 18, tan discloses wherein a control unit of the control circuit module (700) rotates an image (the display can inherently show an image based data stored) shown on the display (730) based on a positive sign or a negative sign of the measurement value of the attitude sensor (720). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JEREMY W CARROLL whose telephone number is (571)272-4988. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8 AM - 5 PM. 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, Paul Durand can be reached at (571) 272-4459. 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. JEREMY W. CARROLL Primary Examiner Art Unit 3754 /Jeremy Carroll/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3754
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

May 07, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 24, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12595165
Reed Switch Pump
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12588785
Condiment Dispensing Apparatus, System, And Methods Of Use
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 31, 2026
Patent 12583731
BEVERAGE DISPENSER WITH ADVANCED PORTION CONTROL AND POINT-OF-SALE INTEGRATION
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12583733
TAP FOR DISPENSING EITHER A FIRST OR A SECOND LIQUID
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12564294
SHOWER DOOR ASSEMBLY
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 03, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

AI Strategy Recommendation

Get an AI-powered prosecution strategy using examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Powered by AI — typically takes 5-10 seconds

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
75%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (+12.2%)
2y 3m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 684 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

Sign in for Full Analysis

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month