Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 18, 2026
Application No. 18/830,623

KEY PLUGGING STRUCTURE, KEY ASSEMBLY AND KEYBOARD THEREOF

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Sep 11, 2024
Priority
Sep 12, 2023 — provisional 63/581,988 +1 more
Examiner
SAEED, AHMED M
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Lite-On Technology Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1m
Est. Remaining
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allowance Rate
605 granted / 749 resolved
+20.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +13% lift
Without
With
+13.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
30 currently pending
Career history
768
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
50.9%
+10.9% vs TC avg
§102
42.2%
+2.2% vs TC avg
§112
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 749 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Claim objections Claim 4, line 3, “the periphery surface” lacks antecedent basis. Claim 6, line 3, “the adjacent sides” lacks antecedent basis. Claims 9-11, line 2, “the vertical projection” lacks antecedent basis. 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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims are 1-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kuang (CN205211636). Regarding claim 1, Kuang teaches a key plugging structure, comprising: a circuit board 1 having a through hole (12, 13), the through hole penetrating through the circuit board; a socket member 4 having a slot 43 and a first jack hole 42, the first jack hole being formed at the bottom of the slot, the socket member embedded in the through hole, the first jack hole and the through hole being connected with each other; and an elastic member 44 having a second jack hole 452, the elastic member being assembled in the slot, the second jack hole and the first jack hole being connected with each other (the jack holes 42, 452 are aligned and functionally connected, see Fig. 5 and paragraphs 5-6 of page 3 of the enclosed translation). Regarding claim 2, Kuang teaches the key plugging structure wherein the through hole further comprises an electrical hole 13 and a guide hole 12; the electrical hole is formed on one side of the guide hole (see annotated Fig. 7). Regarding claim 3, Kuang teaches the key plugging structure wherein the electrical hole comprises a socket hole 13 and a positioning hole 12; the socket hole and the positioning hole are connected with each other; the socket member comprises a base portion and a positioning portion; the positioning portion extends outward from one side of the base portion; the base portion is embedded in the socket hole; the positioning portion is embedded in the positioning hole (see annotated Fig. 7). Regarding claim 4, Kuang teaches the key plugging structure wherein the socket member comprises a base portion and a localizing portion (lower surface of the socket 4); the localizing portion extends outward from the peripheral side of the slot; the localizing portion abuts against the periphery surface of the through hole (12, 13) of the circuit board 1 (Figs. 7-8, and annotated Fig. 7). Regarding claim 5, Kuang teaches the key plugging structure wherein the localizing portion comprises a positioning side corresponding to the side of the guide hole (the entire lower surface of the socket 4 that is positioned on the side of the of the guide hole 12, see Fig. 8). Regarding claim 6, Kuang teaches the key plugging structure wherein the elastic member 44 comprises a body part 41 and two elastic pieces 45; the two elastic pieces extend separately from two ends of the body part in a direction away from the body part; the adjacent sides of the two elastic pieces are close to each other (Fig. 5). Regarding claim 7, Kuang teaches the key plugging structure wherein the two elastic pieces 45 are bent, and the adjacent sides of the two elastic pieces are separately bent toward each other with at least one included angle (Fig. 5). Regarding claim 8, Kuang teaches the key plugging structure wherein the two elastic pieces 45 are bent, and the adjacent sides of the two elastic pieces are separately bent toward each other in an arc shape (Fig. 5). Regarding claims 9-11, Kuang teaches the key plugging structure wherein the second jack hole 452 is provided on the body part 41, and the vertical projection of the second jack hole is between the two elastic pieces 45 (Figs. 5-7). Regarding claim 12, Kuang teaches a key assembly comprising: a circuit board 1 having a through hole (13, 12), the through hole penetrating through the circuit board; a socket member 4 having a slot 43 and a first jack hole 42, the first jack hole being formed at the bottom of the slot, the socket member embedded in the through hole, the first jack hole and the through hole being connected with each other; an elastic member 44 having a second jack hole 452, the elastic member being assembled in the slot, the second jack hole and the first jack hole being connected with each other (the jack holes 42, 452 are aligned and functionally connected); and a key 2 having electrical pins 21, wherein the electrical pins separately plug into the through hole, the first jack hole and the second jack hole, the elastic member elastically clamping the electrical pins, and the elastic member and the electrical pins being electrically connected to each other (see Fig. 5 and paragraphs 5-6 of page 3 of the enclosed translation). Regarding claim 13, Kuang teaches the key wherein the key assembly further comprises a guide post 22, the through hole of the circuit board comprises an electrical hole 13 and a guide hole 12, the electrical hole is formed on one side of the guide hole, and the electrical pins of the key assembly insert into the electrical hole, and the guide post of the key assembly inserts into the guide hole (Figs. 5-8). Regarding claims 14 and 15 , Kuang teaches a keyboard comprises a plurality of the key assemblies according to claim 12 (see abstract of the enclosed translation). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AHMED M SAEED whose telephone number is (571)270-7976. The examiner can normally be reached 10-8pm. 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, 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. /AHMED M SAEED/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 11, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 06, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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2y 6m to grant Granted Jul 14, 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
81%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+13.0%)
2y 1m (~1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 749 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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