Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 17, 2026
Application No. 18/778,261

ASSEMBLY ROBOT TOY

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Jul 19, 2024
Examiner
HYLINSKI, ALYSSA MARIE
Art Unit
3711
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
unknown
OA Round
4 (Final)
47%
Grant Probability
Moderate
5-6
OA Rounds
3y 1m
To Grant
77%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 47% of resolved cases
47%
Career Allow Rate
498 granted / 1067 resolved
-23.3% vs TC avg
Strong +31% interview lift
Without
With
+30.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
44 currently pending
Career history
1111
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.3%
-38.7% vs TC avg
§103
47.8%
+7.8% vs TC avg
§102
18.7%
-21.3% vs TC avg
§112
28.0%
-12.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1067 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 Objections Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: In line 23 the phrase “drive the head part” would be clear as “enable the head part”. Appropriate correction is required. 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 1-7 and 11-21 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 discloses is lines 12-14 that “at least part of the assembly component is configured to move and drive the gear box and the head part to move when the transmission gear set and/or the rod piece rotate/rotates” but then in lines 15-25 the claim discloses that the head is rotatable using first and second rotating bases that are enabled to move under action of external force other than driving of the motor making it unclear how the head part is moved by the motor in response to rotation of the transmission gear set and/or rod piece by the assembly component as previously required when the head is connected to the gear box by rotating bases that are not driven by the motor and are not associated with the assembly component as such making the scope of the claim unclear. Claim 21 discloses in lines 27-33 that the rod piece includes a plurality of transmission rods with at least two transmission rods arranged at both ends of the first rotating rod, and the assembly component is connected through the at least two transmission rods which is unclear since it is unknown if the claim requires two transmission rods on each side of the first rotating rod for a total of four rods or if there are at least two transmission rods wherein a transmission rod is located on each respective end of the first rotating rod. Also it is unclear how transmission rods located on opposite sides can engage a single assembly component as claimed. The claim also discloses “a second avoidance hole” which is unclear since no other avoidance holes are disclosed making it unclear if only one hole is required or a pair of holes is required especially since the hole is formed according to the position of the two transmission rods but since they are positioned on opposing sides it is unclear how a single hole is positioned corresponding to both transmission rods or what purpose the avoidance hole/holes serve. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-7 and 1-21 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 ALYSSA HYLINSKI whose telephone number is (571)272-2684. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Fri 9:30 - 6:00. 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, Eugene Kim can be reached at 571-272-4463. 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. /A.M.H/Examiner, Art Unit 3711 /EUGENE L KIM/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3711
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 19, 2024
Application Filed
Dec 10, 2024
Non-Final Rejection — §112
Mar 07, 2025
Response Filed
Mar 25, 2025
Final Rejection — §112
Jun 27, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Jul 02, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 24, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112
Nov 12, 2025
Response Filed
Feb 19, 2026
Final Rejection — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
47%
Grant Probability
77%
With Interview (+30.7%)
3y 1m
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 1067 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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