Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 14, 2026
Application No. 18/725,270

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jun 28, 2024
Priority
Dec 30, 2021 — CN 202111665882.X +1 more
Examiner
PAUMEN, GARY F
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Changchun Jetty Automotive Technology Co., Ltd.
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
49 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
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) 1-5,7-12, 14-17 and 22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CN 111541083. Regarding claim 1, CN ‘083 (Figures 2 and 3) discloses an electrical connector, comprising: a housing 1, which has a first opening (left end) for insertion of a first electrical connecting device and a second opening 11 for insertion of a second electrical connecting device, wherein the first opening and the second opening are spaced apart, and a sidewall of the housing facing the first opening is provided with a first insertion portion; a first conductive unit 5, which is capable of being electrically connected to the first electrical connecting device and/or the second electrical connecting device, wherein at least part of the first conductive unit is accommodated in the housing, and in a state where the first electrical connecting device or the second electrical connecting device is inserted into the housing via the first insertion portion from the outside of the housing, the first electrical connecting device or the second electrical connecting device is capable of being electrically connected to the accommodated at least part of the first conductive unit. Regarding claim 2, CN ‘083 discloses a sidewall of the housing 1 facing the first opening is further provided with a second insertion portion, and the second insertion portion is disposed opposite to the first insertion portion in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the first electrical connecting device or the second electrical connecting device is inserted into the first opening. Regarding claim 3, CN ‘083 discloses the housing 1 has a mounting opening (at the unnumbered seam above 11 in Figure 2) for placement of the first conductive unit 5, and in a state where the first conductive unit is inserted into the housing via the mounting opening, a sidewall of the housing at the mounting opening is capable of being bent to close the mounting opening. Regarding claim 4, CN ‘083 discloses a fixing component 12,32, which is used to fix the housing 1 and the first conductive unit 5, and is provided between the housing and the first conductive unit. Regarding claim 5, CN ‘083 discloses the electrical connector comprises one of: the fixing component comprises a first fixing portion 12 and a first fixing mating portion 32 which are detachably connected to each other; wherein the first fixing portion is a first convex piece provided on the first conductive unit 5, and the first fixing mating portion is a first concave piece provided on the housing 1; and the fixing component comprises a first fixing portion and a first fixing mating portion which are detachably connected to each other; wherein the first fixing portion is a first convex piece provided on the housing, and the first fixing mating portion is a first concave piece provided on the first conductive unit. Regarding claim 7, CN ‘083 discloses the housing 1 is provided therein with two first conductive units 5, and the two first conductive units are spaced apart in a thickness direction of the housing. Regarding claim 8, CN ‘083 discloses a support portion 4 is connected between the two first conductive units 5, and is located at the same side of the two first conductive units. Regarding claim 9, CN ‘083 discloses the first conductive unit 5 comprises a plurality of first elastic arms 5 which are located at the first opening and disposed at intervals in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the first electrical connecting device or the second electrical connecting device is inserted into the first opening, with a first gap between every adjacent two of the first elastic arms. Regarding claim 10, CN ‘083 discloses a width of the first gap is 1% to 100% of a width of the first elastic arm 5. Regarding claim 11, CN ‘083 discloses the first elastic arm 5 comprises a first warped section and a first connecting section which are sequentially connected from the first opening to the second opening, and the first warped section is inclined toward an outer edge of the first opening. Regarding claim 12, CN ‘083 discloses the first conductive unit further comprises a plurality of second elastic arms 5 which are located at the second opening 11 and disposed at intervals in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the first electrical connecting device or the second electrical connecting device is inserted into the second opening, with a second gap between every adjacent two of the second elastic arms; wherein the plurality of second elastic arms are connected to the plurality of first elastic arms through a first terminal body. Regarding claim 14, CN ‘083 discloses the second elastic arm 5 comprises a second warped section and a second connecting section which are sequentially connected from the second opening 11 to the first opening, and the second warped section is inclined toward an outer edge of the second opening. Regarding claim 15, CN ‘083 discloses the first conductive unit 5 further comprises: an elastic arm connecting piece 6, through which the plurality of second connecting sections are connected to the housing 1. Regarding claim 16, CN ‘083 discloses a second conductive unit 3, which is located between the first conductive unit 5 and the housing 1 and detachably connected to the first conductive unit. Regarding claim 17, CN ‘083 discloses the second conductive unit 3 is provided with a first fixing piece 31, and the first conductive unit 5 is provided with a first fixing mating piece 22 which is capable of being connected to the first fixing piece by snap-fit. Regarding claim 22, CN ‘083 discloses the housing 1 further comprises: a clamping component, which provides a pre-tightening force to the first conductive unit 5; wherein the clamping component comprises at least one first housing elastic arm 13 located at the first opening and at least one second housing elastic arm 14 located at the second opening; wherein the first housing elastic arm comprises a first free end that is capable of being extended into the housing and abutted against the first conductive unit; and the second housing elastic arm comprises a second free end that is capable of being extended into the housing and abutted against the first conductive unit. Claims Defining Over Prior Art Claims 18-21 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: none of the prior art discloses or teaches the second conductive unit further comprises: a first elastic reinforcing portion, which is located at the first opening and provided with a plurality of protruding portions that are capable of passing through the first gaps in a thickness direction of the housing; in combination with the rest of the search of the independent claim and any intervening claims. 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 28, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 27, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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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