Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/766,764

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSLATING DUMPSTERS

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Jul 09, 2024
Examiner
KEENAN, JAMES W
Art Unit
3655
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Phase Ii Enterprises Inc.
OA Round
2 (Final)
67%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
2y 12m
To Grant
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 67% — above average
67%
Career Allow Rate
753 granted / 1130 resolved
+14.6% vs TC avg
Strong +25% interview lift
Without
With
+25.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 12m
Avg Prosecution
36 currently pending
Career history
1166
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
§103
64.9%
+24.9% vs TC avg
§102
5.2%
-34.8% vs TC avg
§112
18.8%
-21.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1130 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . 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, 2, 4-9, 11-15 and 18-20 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, lines 3-4, the recitations “the assembly” and “the hook lift system” lack antecedent basis (note that “a hook lift system” and “an assembly” are later recited in lines 11-12); and lines 19-20 and 22-23, the recitations “the first location” and “the second location” lack antecedent basis (note that “a first position” and “a second position” have previously been recited in lines 4 and 6). Claim 4, lines 8-10, it is not understood what is meant by “the step of translating the … dumpster … further includes translating the … dumpster”, as this fails to add any further limitation. Claim 13, line 3, the recitations “the assembly” and “the hook lift system” lack antecedent basis (note that “a hook lift system” and “an assembly” are later recited in lines 19-20). Claims 14 and 15, the recitations “the … bracket of the frame” (emphasis added) lack clear antecedent basis (i.e., although a bracket has previously been recited, it is not necessarily a component of the frame). Claim 20, lines 20-21 and 23-24, the recitations “the first location” and “the second location” lack antecedent basis (note that “a first position” and “a second position” have previously been recited in lines 9 and 11). Claims 1, 2, 4-9, 11-15 and 18-20 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to James Keenan whose telephone number is (571)272-6925. The examiner can normally be reached Mon. - Thurs. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ernesto Suarez can be reached at 571-270-5565. 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. /James Keenan/ Primary Examiner Art Unit 3652 3/10/26
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 09, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 30, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112
Dec 30, 2025
Response Filed
Mar 10, 2026
Final Rejection — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12601197
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR MANAGING THE STORAGE, PARKING, OR DELIVERY OF RECREATIONAL VEHICLES
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12576770
SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUSES FOR LOADING, SHIFTING, AND STAGING OBJECTS IN AUTOMATED OR SEMI-AUTOMATED FASHION
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Patent 12570464
REFUSE VEHICLE WITH FRAME RAIL SERVICE LIFT
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12565134
SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUSES FOR LOADING, SHIFTING, AND STAGING OBJECTS IN AUTOMATED OR SEMI-AUTOMATED FASHION
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 03, 2026
Patent 12545510
AUTOMATED STORAGE SYSTEMS, AND DEVICES
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 10, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
67%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+25.2%)
2y 12m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1130 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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