Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/805,599

AUTOMATIC RESETTING DEVICE OF ENGAGING-DISENGAGING WINCH

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Aug 15, 2024
Examiner
SOTO, HENRIX
Art Unit
3654
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Ningbo Lianda Winch Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
70%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 9m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 70% — above average
70%
Career Allow Rate
98 granted / 139 resolved
+18.5% vs TC avg
Strong +33% interview lift
Without
With
+32.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
36 currently pending
Career history
175
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
49.0%
+9.0% vs TC avg
§102
23.7%
-16.3% vs TC avg
§112
24.0%
-16.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 139 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 . Priority Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority based on an application filed in CN on 06/24/2024. It is noted, however, that applicant has not filed a certified copy of the CN202410817239.1 application as required by 37 CFR 1.55. 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 1-10 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 recites the limitation "the resetting protrusions" in line 20. The “resetting protrusions” in line 20 is lacking antecedent basis to set forth a plurality of the “at least one resetting protrusion” in line 19. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 2 recites the limitation "the resetting protrusion" in line 8 of claim 2. How does the “resetting protrusion” in line 8 of claim 2 relate to the “at least one resetting protrusion” in line 19 of claim 1? Is there another resetting protrusion being claimed that differs from the at least one resetting protrusion? There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claims 3 and 4 recites the limitation "the radial inclined surface" in lines 4-5 and 8-9 of claim 3 and line 2 of claim 4. How does the “radial inclined surface” in lines 4-5 and 8-9 and line 2 and 5 of claim 4 relate to the “at least one radial drive inclined surface” in line 2 and 5 of claim 3? Is there another radial inclined surface being claimed that differs from the at least radial inclined surface? There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claims 2-10 are rejected because they are dependents of claim 1. Allowable Subject Matter Claim 1 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 would be allowable over the prior art of record because the prior art of record fails to teach or fairly suggest the entire combination of elements set forth including for disclosing a one-way bearing is fixedly sleeved on a middle part of a right side plate in the rightmost planetary gear set, and a resetting drive piece is fixedly sleeved on the one-way bearing; the resetting drive piece realizes unidirectional transmission through the one-way bearing; the resetting protrusions have a tendency of protruding rightward along an axial direction; with the transmission cooperation of the resetting protrusions and the plurality of forking rods, and under an action of the elastic resetting assembly, the transmission shaft axially pushes rightward the push forking block for resetting. Cui (US10280050B2) teaches an automatic resetting device of an engaging-disengaging winch, comprising a winch bracket (bracket mounts to the left and right of the drum 6, Figure 5), a motor (7), a gear box (71; Figures 1-2), at least two planetary gear sets (1, 2), a transmission shaft (4) and a knob assembly (54); the motor and the gear box are respectively disposed at left and right sides of the winch bracket; the planetary gear sets are mounted inside the gear box; both ends of the transmission shaft are connected with the motor and the planetary gear sets, respectively; a left end of the transmission shaft is in circumferential transmission cooperation with the motor, and the transmission shaft is cooperatively connected with the motor through axial movement; an elastic resetting assembly is disposed between the transmission shaft and the motor; the elastic resetting assembly (51-53) enables the transmission shaft to have a tendency of moving rightward along an axial direction; a right end of the transmission shaft is connected at the rightmost planetary gear set (1); a resetting drive piece (56); a push forking block (55) for driving the transmission shaft to move axially is disposed between the resetting drive piece and the gear box; the push forking block is “indirectly” abutted against the right end of the transmission shaft through the elastic resetting assembly; the knob assembly is rotatably connected on the gear box, and is in transmission connection with the push forking block; and the knob assembly is configured to drive a rotation of the push forking block and enable the push forking block to axially push leftward the transmission shaft, but fails to teach a one-way bearing is fixedly sleeved on a middle part of a right side plate in the rightmost planetary gear set, and a resetting drive piece is fixedly sleeved on the one-way bearing; the resetting drive piece realizes unidirectional transmission through the one-way bearing; at least one resetting protrusion is disposed circumferentially on the resetting drive piece; the resetting protrusions are axially and elastically connected to the resetting drive piece and the resetting protrusions have a tendency of protruding rightward along an axial direction; the push forking block is abutted against the right end of the transmission shaft through the elastic resetting assembly, and a plurality of forking rods in transmission cooperation with the resetting protrusions are disposed circumferentially on the push forking block; with the transmission cooperation of the resetting protrusions and the plurality of forking rods, and under an action of the elastic resetting assembly, the transmission shaft axially pushes rightward the push forking block for resetting. Xu (CN108194583A) teaches a similar gear box assembly and further teaches at least one resetting protrusion (a11; Figure 2) is disposed circumferentially on the resetting drive piece (a3; Figure 1); the resetting protrusions are axially and elastically connected to the resetting drive piece; and a plurality of forking rods (a4) in transmission cooperation with the resetting protrusions are disposed circumferentially on the push forking block (a5), but fails to teach a one-way bearing is fixedly sleeved on a middle part of a right side plate in the rightmost planetary gear set, and a resetting drive piece is fixedly sleeved on the one-way bearing; the resetting drive piece realizes unidirectional transmission through the one-way bearing; the resetting protrusions have a tendency of protruding rightward along an axial direction; with the transmission cooperation of the resetting protrusions and the plurality of forking rods, and under an action of the elastic resetting assembly, the transmission shaft axially pushes rightward the push forking block for resetting. Claims 2-10 would be allowable because they are dependents of claim 1. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Additional references listed on form PTO-892 are cited for their relevance to the disclosed invention and demonstration of the state of the art. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HENRIX SOTO whose telephone number is (571)270-5394. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm ET. 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, VICTORIA AUGUSTINE can be reached at (313)446-4858. 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. /H.S./Examiner, Art Unit 3654 /ANNA M MOMPER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3619
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 15, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 20, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
70%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+32.6%)
2y 9m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 139 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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