Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/669,978

PORTABLE INFORMATION HANDLING SYSTEM HINGE-UP DISPLAY RETENTION FOR AUTOMATED ASSEMBLY

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
May 21, 2024
Examiner
MILLISER, THERON S
Art Unit
2841
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
51%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 11m
To Grant
83%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 51% of resolved cases
51%
Career Allow Rate
239 granted / 466 resolved
-16.7% vs TC avg
Strong +32% interview lift
Without
With
+32.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
25 currently pending
Career history
491
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
§103
43.4%
+3.4% vs TC avg
§102
44.1%
+4.1% vs TC avg
§112
10.9%
-29.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 466 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION 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 . Election/Restrictions Applicant’s election of Group I, Species B in the reply filed on 2025-12-17 is acknowledged. Because applicant did not distinctly and specifically point out the supposed errors in the restriction requirement, the election has been treated as an election without traverse (MPEP § 818.01(a)). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 (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. Claim(s) 1, 3, 6-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Wang et al. (US 2009/0257207). Regarding claim 1 Wang discloses: An information handling system comprising: a housing having a main portion (e.g. bottom of 12 FIG.21) and a lid portion (e.g. vertical section of 12 with 196 FIG.21); a processor (e.g. described paragraph [0060]) coupled in the main portion and operable to execute instructions to process information; a memory (e.g. described paragraph [0060]) coupled in the main portion and interfaced with the processor, the memory operable to store the instructions and information; and a display assembly (e.g. 16 FIG.21) coupled in the lid portion, the display assembly having a display panel coupled to a support (e.g. 114 FIG.21), the support having plural spring clips (e.g. 182 FIG.21) extending from opposing sides and engaging against the lid portion (e.g. at 196 FIG.21), each of the plural spring clips having tension pressing against the lid portion to couple the support in place. Regarding claim 3 Wang discloses: the spring clips further couple at a bottom side of the display assembly and extend down and away from the display panel (e.g. shown FIG.21). Regarding claim 6 Wang discloses: the plural spring clips each comprise a strip of sheet metal (e.g. described paragraph [0104]) bent to form a curved portion (e.g. shown FIG.21) aligned to press against the lid portion (e.g. described paragraph [0107]). Regarding claim 7 Wang discloses: the lid portion has a cavity (e.g. 196 FIG.21) formed to align with each of the plural spring clips (e.g. described paragraph [0107]). Regarding claim 8 Wang discloses: the display assembly support has a metal material and the strip of sheet metal is cut from the metal material to integrate with the display assembly support (e.g. described paragraph [0104]). Regarding claim 9 Wang discloses: the plural spring clips comprise stainless steel coupled to the display assembly support (e.g. described paragraph [0104]). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The additional references cited on the PTO-892 disclose/teach similar electronic device housings as those disclosed in the present application. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THERON S MILLISER whose telephone number is (571)270-1800. The examiner can normally be reached 9-6. Limited examiner interviews are available. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Imani N. Hayman can be reached at (571) 270-5528. 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. /THERON S MILLISER/Examiner, Art Unit 2841 /ANTHONY M HAUGHTON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2841
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

May 21, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 10, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12575048
ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY, CASING ASSEMBLY AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12560978
Low Profile Device Hinge Assembly
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 24, 2026
Patent 12560981
AUXILIARY DISPLAY SYSTEM
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 24, 2026
Patent 12557227
FOLDABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 17, 2026
Patent 12547221
HINGE ASSEMBLY AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE
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
51%
Grant Probability
83%
With Interview (+32.0%)
2y 11m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 466 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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