Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 25, 2026
Application No. 18/811,851

Housing Assembly and Electrical Switching Device, in Particular a Contactor or a Relay

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Aug 22, 2024
Priority
Aug 24, 2023 — EU 23398020.0
Examiner
JIMENEZ, ANTHONY R
Art Unit
2831
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
TE Connectivity Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allowance Rate
983 granted / 1114 resolved
+20.2% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+7.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 2m
Avg Prosecution
38 currently pending
Career history
1164
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
42.9%
+2.9% vs TC avg
§102
28.9%
-11.1% vs TC avg
§112
25.9%
-14.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1114 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 . Claims 1-15 are pending in the current application. Claim Objections Regarding Claim 13, line 2, perhaps the term “separable” should be changed to “the separable”. Regarding each of Claims 14 and 15, line 1, perhaps the term “Switching” should be changed to “A switching”. 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. Claims 6, 8-12, and 14, are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. Specifically, Claim 6, line two, is rejected since there is no antecedent basis for the language “the inside”. Regarding Claim 6, the 2nd to the last line, there is no antecedent basis for the language “the outside”. Regarding Claim 11, it is not clear if the “at least two pockets” are included within or are different from the “at least one pocket” recited in Claim 1, the last two lines. Specifically, Claim 14, line two, is rejected since there is no antecedent basis for the language “the magnetic”. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-5 and 7 are allowable. Claims 8-10 and 12 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to Applicant's disclosure. Lauraire (French Pat. No. FR 2733352 A1) discloses a switch that includes a bridge of mobile contacts mounted on a support in an insulating box, including fins that are housed inside a housing surrounded by a ferromagnetic U-shaped part. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANTHONY R. JIMENEZ whose telephone number is 313-446-6518. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Thursday, 1030am - 9pm. 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, Renee Luebke, can be reached at (571) 272-2009. 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. /ANTHONY R JIMENEZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 22, 2024
Application Filed
Oct 14, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12770807
ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND BUTTON THEREOF
3y 3m to grant Granted Oct 20, 2026
Patent 12771056
Electrical Connector and Electrical Connector Stack
3y 2m to grant Granted Oct 20, 2026
Patent 12770809
DOUBLE POLE DOUBLE THROW SWITCH
2y 6m to grant Granted Oct 20, 2026
Patent 12755918
ELECTRICAL PROTECTION DEVICES COMPRISING AN INTEGRATED SWITCHING MODULE
2y 10m to grant Granted Oct 06, 2026
Patent 12749631
ELECTRICAL CONTACT SYSTEM WITH LIQUID METAL LAYER AND DIFFUSION BARRIER
2y 8m to grant Granted Sep 29, 2026
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
88%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+7.0%)
2y 2m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1114 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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