Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 17, 2026
Application No. 18/741,327

CORDLESS CURTAIN AND GUIDE BRAKING UNIT THEREOF

Non-Final OA §103§112
Filed
Jun 12, 2024
Examiner
TRAN, PHI DIEU
Art Unit
3633
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
unknown
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
66%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 1m
To Grant
88%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 66% — above average
66%
Career Allow Rate
701 granted / 1070 resolved
+13.5% vs TC avg
Strong +22% interview lift
Without
With
+22.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
42 currently pending
Career history
1112
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
46.0%
+6.0% vs TC avg
§102
35.0%
-5.0% vs TC avg
§112
8.6%
-31.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1070 resolved cases

Office Action

§103 §112
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. Claim 9 recites the limitation "the plug holes" in line 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claims 1-5 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. It appears that “the circular through-hole” at line 11 of claim 1 should be the pull cord through hole? The claim states that the fastening rod members are insertedly fixed to the two sides of the circular through-hole, but the circular through-hole was defined as part of the slide sheering member not the pull cord through hole in the bottom block. The rod members are also part of the slide sheering member and are fixed thereto, but not “insertedly” fixed as described in the spec. They are insertedly fixed to the socket bases in the bottom block. The disclosure shows the rod members 234 inserted into the socket bases. Therefore, the scope of the claim is unclear. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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) 1-2, 5 are is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over applicant figures 1-2 in view of Simon (5060709). Applicant figures 1-2, shows a cordless curtain and guide braking unit, comprising: a fixing mount(21), comprising a bottom block(212) and a pair of side walls(21), which are respectively connected to two sides of the bottom block, and the bottom block is provided with a pull cord through hole (24), a slide sheering member(60), wherein the sheering member is provided with a circular through hole, the circular through-hole is coaxially positioned corresponding to the pull cord through hole. Applicant figures 1-2, does not show the sheering member made from metal wire with a circular cross-section, which is formed as an integral body with a circular through- hole and a pair of fastening rod members that outwardly extend in opposite directions on two sides of the circular through-hole, the fastening rod members are insertedly fixed to the two sides of the circular through-hole provided in the bottom block. Simon shows the sheering member(60) made from metal wire with a circular cross-section, which is formed as an integral body with a circular through- hole and a pair of fastening rod members(70, 74,68, 72) that outwardly extend in opposite directions on two sides of the circular through-hole, the fastening rod members are insertedly fixed to the two sides of the circular through-hole provided in the bottom block. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill int eh art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Applicant’s figures 1-2 to show the sheering member(60) made from metal wire with a circular cross-section, which is formed as an integral body with a circular through-hole and a pair of fastening rod members(70, 74,68, 72) that outwardly extend in opposite directions on two sides of the circular through-hole, the fastening rod members are insertedly fixed to the two sides of the circular through-hole provided in the bottom block as taught by Simon with a reasonable expectation of success in order to easily form a sheering member out of metallic wire to allow for easy flow of lifting rods through the openings. Per claim 2, Applicant figure 2 as modified shows all the claimed limitations except for the fixing mount further comprises a pair of socket bases, which are respectively positioned on two sides of the pull cord through hole, and the pair of fastening rod members are respectively insertedly fixed to the pair of socket bases. Simon further shows the fixing mount further comprises a pair of socket bases(58, 56), which are respectively positioned on two sides of the pull cord through hole, and the pair of fastening rod members are respectively insertedly fixed to the pair of socket bases. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill int eh art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Applicant’s modified figures 1-2 to show the fixing mount further comprises a pair of socket bases(58, 56), which are respectively positioned on two sides of the pull cord through hole, and the pair of fastening rod members are respectively insertedly fixed to the pair of socket bases as taught by Simon with a reasonable expectation of success in order to easily connect the legs of the fastening rods to the sides of the fixing mount. Per claim 5, Applicant figures 1-2 as modified further shows wherein the pair of fastening rod members extend outward in opposite directions (left and right of the center opening) from two sides of the slide sheering member corresponding to a line therethrough, a plane angle between extended directions forms a deflection prestress angle. Claim(s) 6-8, 10 are is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over applicant figures 1-2 in view of Simon (5060709). Applicant figures 1-2, shows a cordless curtain comprising an upper beam (10), a plurality of curtain slats (50), which are configured on a lower side of the upper beam, a pair of guide braking units (2131), which are fixed inside the upper beam, a pair of angle controllers (30), which are respectively positioned at the sides of the pair of guide braking units, wherein the guide braking unit, comprising: a fixing mount(21), comprising a bottom block(212) and a pair of side walls(21), which are respectively connected to two sides of the bottom block, and the bottom block is provided with a pull cord through hole (24), a ladder cord suspending hub (22), which is rotatable configured to the pair of side walls, and a slide sheering member(60), wherein the sheering member is provided with a circular through hole. Applicant figures 1-2, does not show the sheering member integrally formed with a circular through-hole and a pair of fastening rod members, wherein the circular through hole is positioned on an upper side of the pull cord through hole, and the fastening rod members connect to two sides of the circular through hole. Simon shows the sheering member(60) made from metal wire with a circular cross-section, which is formed as an integral body with a circular through- hole and a pair of fastening rod members(70, 74,68, 72) that outwardly extend in opposite directions on two sides of the circular through-hole, the fastening rod members are insertedly fixed to the two sides of the circular through-hole provided in the bottom block, the fastening rods are respectively insertedly fixed to the pair of socket bases(56, 58) on the fixing mount. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill int eh art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Applicant’s figures 1-2 to show the sheering member(60) made from metal wire with a circular cross-section, which is formed as an integral body with a circular through-hole and a pair of fastening rod members(70, 74,68, 72) that outwardly extend in opposite directions on two sides of the circular through-hole, the fastening rod members are insertedly fixed to the two sides of the circular through-hole provided in the bottom block, the fastening rods are respectively insertedly fixed to the pair of socket bases(56, 58) on the fixing mount as taught by Simon with a reasonable expectation of success in order to easily form a sheering member out of metallic wire to allow for easy flow of lifting rods through the openings. Per claim 6, Applicant figures 1-2 as modified further shows the circular through hole is positioned on an upper side of the pull cord through hole. Per claim 7, Applicant figures 1-2, as modified further shows the sheering member is made from metal wire wound round and formed as an integral body, the fastening rod members are respectively bent and connect to side portions of the circular through hole. Per claim 8, Applicant figures 1-2 as modified further shows the fixing mount further comprising a pair of socket bases(Simon’s teaching), which are respectively positioned on two sides of the pull cord through hole, and the pair of fastening rod members are respectively insertedly fixed to the pair of socket bases. Per claim 9, Applicant figures 1-2, further shows the plug holes(the hole of member 10 which is covered by the shearing member) pass through a bottom surface of the bottom block. Per claim 10, Applicant figures 1-2 as modified further shows the pair of fastening rod members extend outward in opposite directions from two sides of the slide sheering member corresponding to a line therethrough, a plane angle between extended directions forms a deflection prestress angle. Claim(s) 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over applicant figures 1-2 in view of Simon (5060709) as applied to claim 6 above and further in view of Lin(2012/0280072). Applicant figures 1-2, as modified shows all the claimed limitations except for the plug holes pass through a bottom surface of the bottom block. Lin shows wire guide (3) mounting to plug holes (holes of plates 1 and 2) that pass through a bottom surface of the bottom block( 1or 2). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify Applicant’s modified figures 1-2 to show the plug holes pass through a bottom surface of the bottom block as taught by Lin with a reasonable expectation of success in order to directly attach the wire sheering member’s fastening rod members to its supporting bottom plate for quick and easy connection. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 3-4 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: prior art does not provide sufficient motivation to modify Applicant’s figures 1-2 to show each of the socket bases upwardly assumes a U-shape, as well as forming plug holes that are perpendicular to the bottom block; a stopping portion is formed on two inner side surfaces of each of the socket bases; portions of the fastening rod members of the slide sheering member parallel to of the bottom block are wedged into the stopping portions, and portions of the fastening rod members perpendicular to the bottom block are inserted into the plug holes in combination with other claimed limitations. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The prior art shows different curtain wall designs. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PHI D Tran whose telephone number is (571)272-6864. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5 EST. 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. /PHI D A/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3633
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Prosecution Timeline

Jun 12, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 09, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §103, §112 (current)

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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
66%
Grant Probability
88%
With Interview (+22.3%)
3y 1m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1070 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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