Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/764,134

TREADMILL

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jul 03, 2024
Examiner
KENNEDY, JOSHUA T
Art Unit
3784
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Tung Keng Enterprise Co. Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
51%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
8m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 51% of resolved cases
51%
Career Allowance Rate
697 granted / 1361 resolved
-18.8% vs TC avg
Strong +48% interview lift
Without
With
+48.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
41 currently pending
Career history
1396
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
69.5%
+29.5% vs TC avg
§102
16.4%
-23.6% vs TC avg
§112
5.2%
-34.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1361 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Claims 1-3 have been examined. Specification The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Par. 0005, Line 9: “no” should be changed to --not--. Appropriate correction is required. Claim Objections Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: Line 9: “no” should be changed to --not--. Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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. Claims 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ding et al (CN 106362357 A). 1. Ding et al disclose a treadmill comprising a frame, a primary transmission unit (8) supported by the frame, a secondary transmission unit (9) supported by the frame, and a caterpillar (7) extending around the transmission units so that the primary and secondary transmission units keep the caterpillar in proper tension, wherein the primary transmission unit comprises a roller comprising an axle (1) non-rotationally connected to the frame, a tube (2) rotationally extending around the axle, and two bearings (3, 3/5) arranged between the axle and the tube to render the tube rotatable around the axle in one direction but not vice versa (via the “one-way bearing 5”). 2. Ding et al disclose the treadmill according to claim 1, wherein one of the bearings is a one-way bearing (5). 3. Ding et al disclose the treadmill according to claim 1, wherein the primary transmission unit further comprises two pulleys (4) connected to the tube so that the pulleys are rotatable with the tube around the axle (Fig 1). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Beyerlein et al, Xing, and Astilean et al all disclose similar manual treadmills having one-way bearings. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOSHUA T KENNEDY whose telephone number is (571)272-8297. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7a-4:30p MST. 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, LoAn Jimenez can be reached at (571) 272-4966. 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. /JOSHUA T KENNEDY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3784 1/26/2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 03, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 11, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12636539
WEARABLE FITNESS APPARATUS USING ELASTIC CABLE
2y 4m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12636546
PERTUBATION DEVICE FOR PROPIOCEPTION AND VESTIBULAR TRAINING
2y 0m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12623109
DROP SET MODE FOR DIGITAL EXERCISE DEVICE
1y 4m to grant Granted May 12, 2026
Patent 12616871
ABDOMINAL CORE AND PLANK EXERCISE APPARATUS
3y 7m to grant Granted May 05, 2026
Patent 12611570
EXERCISE METHOD AND DEVICE
2y 0m to grant Granted Apr 28, 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
51%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+48.3%)
2y 7m (~8m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1361 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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