Prosecution Insights
Last updated: September 17, 2026
Application No. 18/789,093

MULTI-AXIS ROTARY HANDLE

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Jul 30, 2024
Examiner
MILLER, WILLIAM L
Art Unit
3677
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Hanwit Precision Industries Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Final)
79%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 79% — above average
79%
Career Allowance Rate
1389 granted / 1759 resolved
+27.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +15% lift
Without
With
+14.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 0m
Avg Prosecution
43 currently pending
Career history
1785
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.6%
-39.4% vs TC avg
§103
28.1%
-11.9% vs TC avg
§102
28.2%
-11.8% vs TC avg
§112
37.3%
-2.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1759 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 . Drawings The replacement sheets of drawings, namely Figs. 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, and 11, were received on 08-14-2026. These drawings are acceptable. 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 4 is 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 is unclear if the “swing arm” and “one side” recited in claim 4, line 2, are referencing the “swing arm” and “one side” previously recited in claim 1, line 11. It is unclear if the “horizontal axial direction” recited in claim 4, line 4, is referencing the “horizontal axial direction” previously recited in claim 1, line 13. It is unclear if the “vertical longitudinal direction” recited in claim 4, line 5, is referencing the “vertical longitudinal direction” previously recited in claim 1, line 12. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-3 and 5-9 are allowed. Claim 4 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Claim 1 was amended to include the previously indicated allowable subject matter of dependent claim 10 (now canceled). Regarding claim 1, previously applied Wu (US#8720303) discloses a multi-axis (see Figs. 4-5) rotary handle, comprising: a base 1, a shaft device 31,32 and a handle 2, wherein, said base comprising a penetrating shaft hole (for receiving portion 31 of the shaft device); said shaft device comprising a rotating rod 31 inserted into said shaft hole of said base, and a rotating shaft 32 assembled on portion 311 of said rotating rod, said rotating shaft comprising a protruding rod 34 provided on one end thereof; and said handle assembled at said shaft device (Fig. 3), said handle comprising a coupling groove (space defined between upper and lower portions 21 of handle) located on one side thereof and movably assembled at portion 311 of said rotating rod and a rotating shaft hole (hole defined through lower portion 21) provided on one side (lower side) of said coupling groove and assembled at said protruding rod on one end of said rotating shaft. The lower portion 21 of the handle 2 which includes the rotating shaft hole (hole defined through lower portion 21) can be viewed as a swing arm. However, Wu fails to disclose or suggest this swing arm being rotated along said rotating shaft 32 in a vertical longitudinal direction, and then rotated along said protruding rod 34 on one end of said rotating shaft in a horizontal axial direction, so that said coupling groove of said handle (space defined between upper and lower portions 21 of handle) is aligned and coupled with said rotating rod 31 of said shaft device. Wu teaches away from any such modification as its rotating shaft 32 and protruding rod 34 are vertically aligned. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments have been fully considered and are persuasive, less the above 112(b) rejection necessitated by applicant’s amendment. 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 WILLIAM L MILLER whose telephone number is (571)272-7068. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30 - 6:00 PM. 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, Jason San can be reached at (571) 272-6531. 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. WILLIAM L. MILLER Primary Examiner Art Unit 3677 /WILLIAM L MILLER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3677
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 30, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 07, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Aug 14, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 31, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §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

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
79%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+14.8%)
2y 0m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1759 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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