Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/656,950

ARCH BACK DRAGLINE BUCKET AND WORK MACHINES, SYSTEMS, AND ASSEMBLIES THEREOF

Non-Final OA

Filed

May 07, 2024

Examiner

BREGEL, EVAN ANTHONY

Art Unit

3671

Tech Center

3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce

Assignee

Caterpillar Global Mining LLC

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +35.1% interview lift. Interview already conducted in this application's prosecution history. This examiner has a 72% grant rate with +35.1% interview lift. Since an interview has already been tried, recommend written response with narrowed claims based on precedent claim evolution patterns.

Based on 46 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

BREGEL, EVAN ANTHONY View full profile →

Grants 72% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

33 granted / 46 resolved

+19.7% vs TC avg

Strong +35% interview lift

Without

With

+35.1%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

3y 2m

Avg Prosecution

17 currently pending

Career history

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103

85.6%

+45.6% vs TC avg

§102

5.2%

-34.8% vs TC avg

§112

9.3%

-30.7% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 46 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

May 07, 2024

Application Filed

Apr 29, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed

Jul 14, 2026

Examiner Interview Summary

Jul 14, 2026

Applicant Interview (Telephonic)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/396,746

Patent 12674300

ROBOT FOR POND DESILTING

2y 6m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026

18/193,519

Patent 12667035

Hydraulic Top Link

3y 3m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026

18/039,808

Patent 12662794

EARTH SCRAPER

3y 0m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026

18/198,201

Patent 12653083

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING BOLT SHEAR IN A SHANK ASSEMBLY OF AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT

3y 1m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026

17/724,798

Patent 12644243

WIDTH-ADJUSTABLE SCRAPER BLADE DEVICE

4y 1m to grant Granted Jun 02, 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

72%

Grant Probability

99%

With Interview (+35.1%)

3y 2m (~12m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 46 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.