Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/684,744

HIGH MELT FLOW POLYPROPYLENE COMPOSITION

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Feb 19, 2024
Priority
Aug 23, 2021 — EU 21192526.8 +1 more
Examiner
BUTCHER, ROBERT T
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Borealis AG
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
71%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
88%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 71% — above average
71%
Career Allowance Rate
692 granted / 973 resolved
+11.1% vs TC avg
Strong +17% interview lift
Without
With
+17.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
45 currently pending
Career history
1022
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.1%
-38.9% vs TC avg
§103
53.1%
+13.1% vs TC avg
§102
10.4%
-29.6% vs TC avg
§112
25.0%
-15.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 973 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . This application is a national stage entry under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2022/073297 filed 8/22/2022. Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) by Application No. EP21192526.8 filed 8/23/2021, which papers have been placed of record in the file. Claims 1-12, 14 are pending. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claim 14 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claim 14 recites the limitation "The composition according to claim 13…" in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements. Statement of Reasons of Allowance The present claims are allowable over the closest prior art of Kahlen et al. (US 2020/0385555) for the following reasons: Kahlen does not suggest alone, or in combination, the claimed composition. Specifically, Kahlen is directed to a mixed plastic waste comprising a blend of recycled polyolefins including polypropylene, a first polypropylene copolymer and a second polypropylene copolymer. Applicant has demonstrated the claimed blend of polypropylene homopolymers and mixed plastics polypropylene blend demonstrate good mechanical properties including high impact strength, tensile properties without impairing high melt flow rates. The Examiner is unaware of prior art that reasonably suggests alone, or in combination, the claimed invention. Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled "Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance." Contact Information Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROBERT T BUTCHER whose telephone number is (571)270-3514. The examiner can normally be reached Telework M-F 9-5 Pacific Time Zone. 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, Lanee Reuther can be reached at (571) 270-7026. 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. /ROBERT T BUTCHER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1764
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 19, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 15, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
71%
Grant Probability
88%
With Interview (+17.0%)
2y 7m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 973 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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