Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/727,759

HEADREST FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE SEAT

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jul 10, 2024
Examiner
KIM, SHIN H
Art Unit
3636
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Treves Products, Services & Innovation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
64%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 2m
To Grant
76%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 64% of resolved cases
64%
Career Allow Rate
735 granted / 1149 resolved
+12.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+11.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 2m
Avg Prosecution
35 currently pending
Career history
1184
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.4%
-39.6% vs TC avg
§103
54.2%
+14.2% vs TC avg
§102
28.4%
-11.6% vs TC avg
§112
9.7%
-30.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1149 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION 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 . 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. Claims 1-9 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 1 recites the limitation "the top of the backrest" in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 2 recites the limitation "the head" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 3 recites the limitation "the head" in line 4-5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 3 recites the limitation "the event" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-9 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHIN H KIM whose telephone number is (571)272-7788. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9AM-6PM. 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, David Dunn can be reached at 571-272-6670. 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. /SHIN H KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3636
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 10, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 09, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12600276
INDEPENDANT AIR CONDITIONING SEAT FOR VEHICLES
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12597370
Flag Label
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12594866
VEHICLE USER SUPPORT INCLUDING UPPER HOOD MODULE
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12583373
VEHICLE HEADREST
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12579916
POPUP VIDEO DISPLAY SYSTEM
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 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
64%
Grant Probability
76%
With Interview (+11.6%)
2y 2m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1149 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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