Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 04, 2026
Application No. 18/705,485

POLYPROPYLENE MICROSPHERE AND PREPARATION METHOD THEREFOR, 3D PRINTING RAW MATERIAL, AND USE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Apr 26, 2024
Priority
Oct 27, 2021 — CN 202111258205.6 +1 more
Examiner
LE, HOA T
Art Unit
1788
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
BEIJING RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL INDUSTRY, CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CORPORATION
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
73%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
5m
Est. Remaining
85%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 73% — above average
73%
Career Allowance Rate
798 granted / 1097 resolved
+7.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+12.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
1140
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.7%
-39.3% vs TC avg
§103
42.4%
+2.4% vs TC avg
§102
27.2%
-12.8% vs TC avg
§112
24.2%
-15.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1097 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action. Election/Restrictions Claims 8-13 and 20 stand withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. As stated in the last office action the election was treated as an election without traverse in the 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 § 112 Claims 8-13 and 20 are 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 9 fails to further limit claim 1 upon which it depends. Claim 1 limit the comonomers be propylene and ethylene, while the term “olefins” of claim 8 broadly comprises all alkylene monomers. Claims 9-13 are indefinite because of the term “preferably”. Other claims are deemed indefinite in view of their dependence on claim 8. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-7 and 14-19 are allowed. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: None of the prior art references of record teaches a polypropylene microsphere with the half peak width ranging from 4-10oC and the spherical shape of 0.9-1.1having the spherical L/D ratio of 0.9 to 1.1 . Wang (EP 3617238) teaches a polypropylene consists of ethylene and propylene as sole comonomers; and the ethylene content is 2-5 wt% which is well within the claimed range and melt index is also in the claimed range. However, it is unclear whether the polypropylene is microsphere within the L/D ratio as claimed. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HOA (Holly) LE whose telephone number is (571)272-1511. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. 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, Alicia Chevalier can be reached at 571-272-1490. 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. HOA (Holly) LE Primary Examiner Art Unit 1788
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 26, 2024
Application Filed
Apr 08, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jul 08, 2026
Response Filed
Sep 23, 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

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
73%
Grant Probability
85%
With Interview (+12.2%)
2y 11m (~5m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1097 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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