Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/683,901

TOOL

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Feb 15, 2024
Priority
Sep 28, 2021 — nonprovisional of PCTJP2021035655
Examiner
WONG, ERIC K
Art Unit
2874
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
91%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
788 granted / 940 resolved
+15.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+7.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 2m
Avg Prosecution
37 currently pending
Career history
976
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.4%
-39.6% vs TC avg
§103
52.8%
+12.8% vs TC avg
§102
38.4%
-1.6% vs TC avg
§112
3.6%
-36.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 940 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
CTNF 18/683,901 CTNF 79749 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia 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 § 103 07-06 AIA 15-10-15 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 07-20-aia AIA The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. 07-20-02-aia AIA This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention. 07-21-aia AIA Claim (s) 7-18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 12/015,232 to Lin in view of US 5,274,903 to Grois et al . As to claim 7, Lin discloses in the abstract and figures, a tool comprising: A first operation arm (12) configured to be opened and closed at a first tip end portion (112) thereof; A second operation arm (23) configured to be opened and closed at a second tip end portion (212) thereof; A first chuck (4) formed of a first material attracted to a magnet and fixed to the first tip portion (portion 4 in figures 1-2); A second chuck (5) formed of a second material attracted to the magnet by a magnetic force at a second end tip (portion 5 in figures 1-2), wherein at least part of the magnet is configured to be moved away from a first connector in a state where the first and second chuck are attracted by the magnet (Examiner interprets this to mean the inserts are attached and in use), and operating the tool to close a first and second arm to close the tips (the prior art tool is a crimp tool that closes to provide a crimping force). PNG media_image1.png 583 493 media_image1.png Greyscale Claim 8 recites the use of a “soft” magnetic material. There is no claimed range of “hardness” or any type of material composition to define the meets and bounds of this claim. Magnets are not fully rigid in practice and would have some degree of softness. As to claim 9, the inserts of the prior art are “pushed in” to a recessed portion of the tool tip. As to claim 10, there is no statement disclosed that would suggest the two magnetic materials differ in hardness. As to claim 11, a plurality of parts are shown in figure 3. As to claim 12, there is a pivot joint via pin 25 as well as arm 3. Claims 13-18 are method claims that relate to the use of the above disclosed structure. However, Lin fails to explicitly disclose the use of optical connector components. It is noted that Lin does not specifically limit the tool to purely electrical crimping components nor the ability to adapt for other uses. It appears Applicant’s invention relates to a tool with magnetic adapter attachments similar in use and practice to Lin. Grois discloses a general optical connector tool end utilizing optical connector compression components. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to interchange different toolhead fittings including those taught by Grois in the tool of Lin to allow for the use of the tool for a wide range of connector shapes, types or holders . Conclusion 07-96 AIA The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 2017/0136520 (magnetic tool end attachments). US 6,725,546 (magnetic insert and singular pivot point 30). Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Eric K Wong whose telephone number is (571)272-2363. The examiner can normally be reached M-Tu, Th-F 8A-6P. 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, Thomas Hollweg can be reached on 571-270-1739. 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. ERIC K. WONG Primary Examiner Art Unit 2874 /Eric Wong/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2874 Application/Control Number: 18/683,901 Page 2 Art Unit: 2874 Application/Control Number: 18/683,901 Page 3 Art Unit: 2874 Application/Control Number: 18/683,901 Page 4 Art Unit: 2874 Application/Control Number: 18/683,901 Page 5 Art Unit: 2874
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 15, 2024
Application Filed
Apr 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Sep 17, 2026
Examiner Interview (Telephonic)
Sep 17, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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WAVEGUIDE STRUCTURE WITH APERTURE ARRAY
3y 11m to grant Granted Sep 29, 2026
Patent 12748339
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Patent 12733792
MINIMALLY INVASIVE OPTICAL FORWARD VIEWING PROBE
2y 9m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12730275
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Patent 12724208
DUST CAP FOR FIBER OPTIC CONNECTORS
4y 1m to grant Granted Sep 01, 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
84%
Grant Probability
91%
With Interview (+7.6%)
2y 2m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 940 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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