Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/801,965

BELT ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Aug 13, 2024
Priority
Aug 16, 2010 — provisional 61/374,184 +7 more
Examiner
PATEL, TAJASH D
Art Unit
3732
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Team Nexbelt Operating Inc.
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
7m
Est. Remaining
88%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allowance Rate
1271 granted / 1574 resolved
+10.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+6.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
34 currently pending
Career history
1605
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.8%
-38.2% vs TC avg
§103
54.0%
+14.0% vs TC avg
§102
4.7%
-35.3% vs TC avg
§112
23.9%
-16.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1574 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 1. 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. 2. Claims 1-6 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. In claim 1, on line 3, “the buckle member configured to fixedly receive a first end of a belt cut ….corresponding to a waist size” and on lines 6-7, “ a second opening configured to receive a second end of the belt within a second opening of the buckle member” is indefinite since it is unclear if the buckle member receiving the first and second ends are through separate parallel openings, etc.? Further, in claim 1, on lines 6-7, second occurrence of “a second opening” is indefinite since it is unclear if each occurrence of “ a second opening” are structurally the same or different from one another? Correction is required. Allowable Subject Matter 3. Claims 1-6 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. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TEJASH PATEL whose telephone number is (571)272-4993. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 9am -5pm. 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, Clinton Ostrup can be reached at (571) 272-5559. 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. December 24, 2024 /TAJASH D PATEL/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3732
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 13, 2024
Application Filed
May 07, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Aug 05, 2025
Response Filed
Aug 18, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §112
Oct 14, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Nov 18, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Dec 03, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Dec 30, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12636458
HEADGEAR FOR A PATIENT INTERFACE
3y 6m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12637794
SEWING MACHINE
2y 0m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12628898
HELMET AND CHIN STRAP
2y 2m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12628895
ACCESSORY ATTACHMENT SYSTEM FOR A HELMET
1y 0m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12616259
GLOVE WITH LONGITUDINAL FINGER STAYS AND TEXTURED FINGER AND THUMB CROTCHES
2y 8m to grant Granted May 05, 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
81%
Grant Probability
88%
With Interview (+6.9%)
2y 4m (~7m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 1574 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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