Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 15, 2026
Application No. 18/721,568

CABLE CONNECTION DEVICE AND ACTUATOR FOR A CABLE CONNECTION DEVICE

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Jun 18, 2024
Priority
Dec 21, 2021 — DE 10 2021 134 148.5 +1 more
Examiner
PAUMEN, GARY F
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Harting Electric Stiftung & Co. Kg
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allowance Rate
1755 granted / 1980 resolved
+28.6% vs TC avg
Minimal -2% lift
Without
With
+-1.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 8m
Avg Prosecution
50 currently pending
Career history
1997
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.8%
-39.2% vs TC avg
§103
50.5%
+10.5% vs TC avg
§102
38.4%
-1.6% vs TC avg
§112
4.1%
-35.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1980 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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 . 35 USC 102 Rejections The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (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 and 4-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by DE 102021101505. Regarding claims 1 and 9, DE ‘505 (Figure 1) discloses a cable connection device 1 with a contact carrier, the cable connection device comprising: a busbar 3; a contact arm 43 for fixing an electrical conductor between the busbar and the contact arm; and an actuator 5 cooperating with the contact arm, wherein the actuator is displaceably mounted in a guide channel 20 in an actuating direction between a released position (Figure 1) and an actuated position (Figure 2), and wherein the actuator is divided into a main body 52 and a locking body 51 in such a way that the locking body, in the actuated position of the actuator, is movable relative to the main body in a locking direction different from the actuating direction into a recess 24 in an inner wall of the guide channel to form a rear grip to lock the actuator in the actuated position. Regarding claim 4, DE ‘505 discloses a swivel joint 53 connects the main body 52 and the locking body 51. Regarding claim 5, DE ‘505 discloses the main body 52 and the locking body 51 are initially firmly connected to one another and can only be moved relative to one another, after overcoming a resistance. Regarding claim 6, DE ‘505 discloses the actuator 5 has a predetermined breaking point between the main body 52 and the locking body 51. Regarding claim 7, DE ‘505 discloses the main body 52 is arranged directly next to the contact arm 43 or partially encloses the contact arm and the locking body 51 is arranged above the main body as viewed in the actuating direction, and in that a tool engagement point 54 is formed into an end of the locking body facing away from the main body. Regarding claim 8, DE ‘505 discloses a spring arm of a torsion spring is configured as the contact arm 43. 35 USC 103 Rejections 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. Claim(s) 2 and 3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over DE 102021101505. It would have been an obvious matter of design to provide DE ‘505 with a dovetail guide since dovetails are widely used in a wide variety of applications. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GARY F PAUMEN whose telephone number is (571)272-2013. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th. 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, Christopher Koehler can be reached at 571-272-3560. 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. /GARY F PAUMEN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 18, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 29, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12706417
ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY
2y 12m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Patent 12706315
METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR, SUCH AS A CURRENT ROD, FOR A HIGH-TEMPERATURE ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICE
3y 2m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Patent 12706410
CONNECTOR POSITION ASSURANCE FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
2y 9m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Patent 12706425
POWER CONECTOR SYSTEM
2y 9m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Patent 12706415
ON-VEHICLE CONNECTOR UNIT
2y 7m to grant Granted Aug 11, 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
89%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (-1.5%)
1y 8m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1980 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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