Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 06, 2026
Application No. 18/728,526

SCUTOIDAL SUB-CELL AND CELL ARRANGEMENTS

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jul 12, 2024
Priority
Jan 14, 2022 — provisional 63/299,675 +1 more
Examiner
FORD, GISELE D
Art Unit
3633
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
University of Puerto Rico
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
70%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
83%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 70% — above average
70%
Career Allowance Rate
616 granted / 881 resolved
+17.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+13.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 11m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
911
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.8%
-39.2% vs TC avg
§103
43.9%
+3.9% vs TC avg
§102
23.1%
-16.9% vs TC avg
§112
30.0%
-10.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 881 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 . Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114 A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after allowance or after an Office action under Ex Parte Quayle, 25 USPQ 74, 453 O.G. 213 (Comm'r Pat. 1935). Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, prosecution in this application has been reopened pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 05/11/2026 has been entered. 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. Claim 5 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. Regarding claim 5, the limitation between the first panel in the second panel is unclear. The examiner will examine as best understood with the limitation intended to be between the first panel and the second panel. Appropriate correction is required. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-4, 6-19 are allowed. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GISELE D FORD whose telephone number is (571)270-7326. The examiner can normally be reached M-T,Th-F 7:30am-4:30pm. 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, Brian Glessner can be reached at 571-272-6754. 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. GISELE D. FORD Examiner Art Unit 3633 /GISELE D FORD/Examiner, Art Unit 3633
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 12, 2024
Application Filed
May 11, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
May 13, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Jul 16, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12692697
FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER WALL FRAMING SYSTEM
2y 0m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12687007
TERRACE CANOPY AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME
2y 5m to grant Granted Jul 21, 2026
Patent 12679541
PASSENGER CUBICLE ASSEMBLY
2y 6m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12668981
BUILDING PANEL WITH A MECHANICAL LOCKING SYSTEM
2y 2m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12662839
SUPPORT POLE AND OUTDOOR LIGHTING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING THE SAME
4y 0m to grant Granted Jun 23, 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
70%
Grant Probability
83%
With Interview (+13.5%)
1y 11m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 881 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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