Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/809,377

TOOL FITTING WITH FLUID BASED ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND ELECTRIC TOOL

Non-Final OA §102§103§112
Filed
Aug 20, 2024
Priority
Aug 15, 2022 — CN 202210976674.X +1 more
Examiner
NGUYEN, VIET P
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Hangzhou Great Star Industrial Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
61%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
5m
Est. Remaining
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 61% of resolved cases
61%
Career Allowance Rate
441 granted / 719 resolved
+1.3% vs TC avg
Strong +31% interview lift
Without
With
+30.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
19 currently pending
Career history
736
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
83.5%
+43.5% vs TC avg
§102
4.7%
-35.3% vs TC avg
§112
10.9%
-29.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 719 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103 §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 . In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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 2-18 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. Regarding claim 2, the recitation “the function component is electrically connected to the movable component” is indefinite because it contradicts the present disclosure. In Fig. 5 of the present invention, function component 24 is connected to magnetic component 22 to receive power, it is not connected to movable component 23 which is a rotor that is non-electric. Regarding claim 16, the recitation “the cover is fixed on the cover” is indefinite because it recites the cover is fixed on itself. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1-4, 15-16, 18, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by US 20220265107 A1 to Knight. Regarding claim 1, Knight discloses a tool comprising: a housing (Fig. 3: 104) provided with a fluid port (100a); and an auxiliary assembly (112 and 116) installed on the housing, wherein the auxiliary assembly comprises a power generation unit (112) and a function component (116), the function component is electrically connected to the power generation unit, the power generation unit is capable of converting kinetic energy into electrical energy under flowing of a fluid and supplying power to the function component [0011]. Regarding claim 2, Knight discloses the power generation unit comprises a magnetic component (stator of generator) and a movable component (108 and rotor of generator), the function component (116) is electrically connected to the movable component (112), and the movable component (rotor) is capable of moving and cutting magnetic induction lines generated by the magnetic component (stator) under flowing of the fluid. Regarding claim 3, Knight discloses the movable component comprises a rotor (Fig. 3: 108 and rotor of generator) and the rotor is capable of rotating and cutting the magnetic induction lines generated by the magnetic component under flowing of the fluid. Regarding claim 4, Knight discloses the auxiliary assembly is movably installed on the housing to enable the auxiliary assembly to have a working state or a non-working state; when the auxiliary assembly is in the working state, the movable component is capable of being driven to move and cutting the magnetic induction lines generated by the magnetic component under flowing of the fluid, the power generation unit is capable of supplying an sufficient electricity to the function component to enable the function component to be in operation; and when the auxiliary assembly is in the non-working state, the movable component is not capable of being driven to move by flowing of the fluid or the movable component is capable of being driven to move slowly by flowing of the fluid, the power generation unit is not capable of supplying sufficient electricity to the function component, and the function component is out of operation [0026]. Regarding claim 15, Knight discloses the auxiliary assembly is a lighting assembly, the function component is a lighting member (Fig. 3: 116); the lighting assembly is movably installed on the housing, such that the lighting assembly has the working state and the non-working state; when the lighting assembly is in the working state, the movable component is capable of being driven to move and cutting the magnetic lines generated by the magnetic component under flowing of the fluid, the power generation unit is capable of supplying the sufficient electricity to the lighting member to enable the lighting member to light; and when the lighting assembly is in the non-working state, the movable component is not capable of being driven to move by flowing of the fluid, or the movable component is capable of being driven to move slowly under flowing of the fluid, the power generation unit is not capable of supplying sufficient electricity to the lighting member, such that the lighting member is not able to light; and/or the auxiliary assembly is detachably connected to the housing [0026]. Regarding claim 16, Knight discloses the auxiliary assembly further comprises a cover (Fig. 3: 128), the cover is fixed on the cover, the cover is provided with an air inlet (110a) and an air outlet (100b), the magnetic component and the movable component (112) are both disposed in the cover (128), and the function component (116) is installed in the housing (104). Regarding claim 18, Knight discloses a ventilation portion and a sealing portion are provided on a side of the cover towards the fluid port, the sealing portion is disposed in the fluid port, the ventilation portion is located outside the housing; the air outlet is located on a side of the fluid port and/or a side surface of the cover; or the cover comprises a convex portion and a main portion fitting with each other, the convex portion is disposed outside the housing, the main portion is disposed in the housing, the air inlet is located on the convex portion, the air outlet is located on a side of the main portion away from the fluid port or a side surface of the main portion; and/or the rotor (Fig. 2: 108) is disposed on a side of the magnetic component towards the fluid port (104a); or the rotor is disposed on a side of the magnetic component away from the fluid port. Regarding claim 20, Knight discloses an electric tool (Fig. 1: 10), comprising the tool fitting of claim 1 (see claim 1 above). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. Claim 17 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 20220265107 A1 to Knight in view of US 20120047679 A1 to Peng et al. Regarding claim 17, Knight discloses a tool as described above. However, it fails to disclose the limitations from claim 17. Peng et al. teaches the auxiliary assembly further comprises a dust cover (Fig. 2: 14a), the dust cover is disposed on a side of the cover towards the fluid port (F2); and the air inlet (21) is located on a side of the cover towards the fluid port, and the air outlet (22) is located on a side surface of the cover. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the teaching of the dust cover as disclosed by Peng et al. to the tool disclosed by Knight. One would have been motivated to do so to prevent dust from going in the tool. Claim 19 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 20220265107 A1 to Knight in view of US 20130320858 A1 to Deery et al. Regarding claim 19, Knight discloses a tool as described above. However, it fails to disclose the limitations from claim 19. Deery et al. teaches the tool fitting further comprises an energy storage component (Fig. 7: 72) and the energy storage component is electrically connected to the function component (38) to supply power to the function component; the energy storage component is further electrically connected to the power generation unit and capable of storing electrical energy converted by the power generation unit to supply the power to the function component; and/or the energy storage component is detachably connected to the housing; and/or the energy storage component is a disposable battery or a rechargeable battery (72). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use the teaching of the energy storage component as disclosed by Deery et al. to the tool disclosed by Knight. One would have been motivated to do so to further power the function component. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 5-14 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Claims 5-14 depend on claim 2 which has the 35 USC 112 rejection. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VIET P NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-9457. The examiner can normally be reached M, T, Th, F from 12pm-8pm. 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, Tulsidas C Patel can be reached at 571-272-2098. 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. /VIET P NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2834
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 20, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 06, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103, §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
61%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+30.6%)
2y 4m (~5m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 719 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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