Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/686,028

METHOD FOR REDUCTION OF DISCOLORATION IN LATEX POLYMERS

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Feb 23, 2024
Priority
Sep 29, 2021 — EU 21199672.3 +1 more
Examiner
SERGENT, RABON A
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation)
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
55%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 2m
Est. Remaining
79%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 55% of resolved cases
55%
Career Allowance Rate
543 granted / 991 resolved
-5.2% vs TC avg
Strong +24% interview lift
Without
With
+24.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 7m
Avg Prosecution
40 currently pending
Career history
1032
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
68.4%
+28.4% vs TC avg
§102
8.8%
-31.2% vs TC avg
§112
18.7%
-21.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 991 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
Detailed Office Action Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Indefiniteness Rejection 2. 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. 3. Claim 18 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. Within line 2 of claim 18, the language, “an amount of is”, is incorrect; it is unclear if there is an omission. Correction is required. Allowable Subject Matter 4. Claims 1-17, 19, and 20 are allowed. 5. Claim 18 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. 6. The prior art of record fails to disclose the addition of the peroxide to the latex, as claimed, under the claimed conditions and in accordance with the claimed sequence of operations. Conclusion 7. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Rabon A Sergent whose telephone number is (571)272-1079. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, ET. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Heidi Riviere Kelley, can be reached at telephone number 571-270-1831. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from Patent Center. Status information for published applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Patent Center to authorized users only. Should you have questions about access to the USPTO patent electronic filing system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). Examiner interviews are available via a variety of formats. See MPEP § 713.01. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) Form at https://www.uspto.gov/InterviewPractice. /RABON A SERGENT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1765
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 23, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 30, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12679923
XYLYLENE DIISOCYNATE COMPOSITION, PREPARATION METHOD THEREFOR AND USE THEREOF
2y 10m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12668661
PROCESS FOR PREPARING POLYPROPYLENE CARBONATE
4y 7m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12662568
STABILE SILANE MODIFIED POLYMER COMPOSITION AND METHOD
6y 2m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Patent 12655246
XYLYLENE DIISOCYANATE COMPOSITION, XYLYLENE DIISOCYANATE MODIFIED COMPOSITION, POLYMERIZABLE COMPOSITION, RESIN, MOLDED ARTICLE, OPTICAL ELEMENT, AND LENS
4y 0m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026
Patent 12649818
XYLYLENE DIISOCYANATE COMPOSITION AND OPTICAL COMPOSITION COMPRISING SAME
3y 0m to grant Granted Jun 09, 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
55%
Grant Probability
79%
With Interview (+24.2%)
3y 7m (~1y 2m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 991 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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