Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 18/839,188

ASSEMBLY FOR MOUNTING ONE OR MORE LINES, AND SYSTEM

Non-Final OA §102§112
Filed
Aug 16, 2024
Priority
Feb 24, 2022 — nonprovisional of PCTEP2022054668
Examiner
ROBINSON, KRYSTAL
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
ABB Schweiz AG
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
86%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
81%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 86% — above average
86%
Career Allowance Rate
672 granted / 778 resolved
+26.4% vs TC avg
Minimal -5% lift
Without
With
+-5.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
1y 11m
Avg Prosecution
26 currently pending
Career history
798
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
52.8%
+12.8% vs TC avg
§102
31.9%
-8.1% vs TC avg
§112
7.8%
-32.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 778 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §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 . 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 . Priority This application is a 371 of PCT/EP2022/054668 filed on 02/24/2022. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on August 16, 2024 and September 17, 2024 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. Claim Objections Claim 11 is objected to because of the following informalities: in the phrase “when comprising” should read “comprising”. Please remove the term “when” Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 Claims 1-19 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 regards to claim 5, the examiner is unclear as to what the “view” and “viewing direction” is. The applicant should clearly define what is considered to be the view and viewing direction as it correlates to an axis. In regards to claim 11, there is contradictory limitation. The claim recites that "the stabilizing element is fixed with respect to the holding part of each secondary holder." It is unclear how a single stabilizing element introduced as "a stabilizing element" can simultaneously be fixed to both the primary holding part and the holding part of each secondary holder without further structural definition as to whether there are multiple stabilizing elements or one continuous member. In regards to claims 13-15, there is an antecedent basis error. Claim 13: Recites "each attachment part is configured to be attached to a unique target element." Claim 10 recites an "attachment part" for the main holder and an "attachment part" for each secondary holder. It is unclear if "each attachment part" in claim 13 refers collectively to the attachment parts of both the primary holder and the secondary holders or only the secondary holders. Claim 15: Recites "each pair of attachment part and target element defines an unequivocal relative orientation." The term "attachment part" lacks proper antecedent basis for the reasons noted above, and "target element" lacks clear structural boundaries as to whether it is a component of the "target structure" recited in claim 10. 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. Claim(s) 1-4, 6-12 and 16-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(a) as being anticipated by Jackson (US 2017/0072630). In regards to claim 1, Jackson teaches an assembly for being mounted to a target structure (371), the assembly comprising: one or more line (electrical wires (paragraph [0102]); and a holder (275) including: a holding part (293) holding the one or more lines (see figure 11); an attachment part (base (281)) fixed with respect to the holding part (293), the attachment part (281) being configured to mechanically connect the holder to the target structure (371)(see figure 14); and a lifting structure (upwardly projecting portions of (293)) for being engaged by an industrial robot (1505) capable to lift the assembly, the lifting structure being fixed with respect to the attachment part (see figure 10). PNG media_image1.png 386 368 media_image1.png Greyscale In regards to claim 2, Jackson teaches the assembly (38) according to claim 1, wherein the holding part (293) is positioned between the lifting structure (see figure 10) and the attachment part (281). In regards to claim 3, Jackson teaches the assembly according to claim 1, wherein the assembly comprises a cable harness (electrical wires (paragraph [0102])), and wherein the one or more lines (electrical wires (paragraph [0102]) are a plurality of electric cables of the cable harness (759, see figure 37). In regards to claim 4, Jackson teaches the assembly (38) according to claim 1, further comprising a stabilizing element (277) fixed with respect to the holding part (293) and supporting the one or more lines (electrical wires (paragraph [0102])) outside of the holding part (293). In regards to claim 6, Jackson teaches the assembly (38) according claim1, wherein the attachment part (281) comprises one or more attachment features (287, 289) configured to attach to a target element (283) of the target structure (271) by snap-fit (paragraph [0100]) see figure 11). In regards to claim 7, Jackson teaches the assembly according to claim 1, wherein the holder (275) comprises a molded body molded over the one or more lines (molding, paragraph [0003]). In regards to claim 8, Jackson teaches the assembly according to claim 7, wherein the molded body comprises the lifting structure (figure 10). In regards to claim 9, Jackson teaches the assembly according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the molded body (figure 11) comprises the attachment part (281). In regards to claim 10, Jackson teaches an assembly for being mounted to a target structure (371), the assembly comprising: one or more line (electrical wires (paragraph [0102]); and a holder (275) including: a holding part (293) holding the one or more lines (see figure 11); an attachment part (base (281)) fixed with respect to the holding part (293), the attachment part (281) being configured to mechanically connect the holder to the target structure (371)(see figure 14); and a lifting structure (upwardly projecting portions of (293)) for being engaged by an industrial robot (1505) capable to lift the assembly, the lifting structure being fixed with respect to the attachment part (see figure 10), and at least one secondary holder (see plurality of holders in figure 86), wherein each secondary holder (275) includes: a holding part (293) holding the one or more lines (electrical wires (paragraph [0102]); an attachment part (base (281)) fixed with respect to the holding part (296, the attachment part (281) being configured to mechanically connect the secondary holder (see the plurality of holders being in connection in figure 86) to the target structure (64); and [[-]] a lifting structure (upwardly projecting portions of (293)) for being engaged by the industrial robot (1505) to lift the secondary holder (275), the lifting structure (upwardly projecting portions of (293)) being fixed with respect to the attachment part (281). In regards to claim 11, Jackson teaches the system (74) according to claim 10, when comprising an assembly further comprising a stabilizing element (277) fixed with respect to the holding part (293) and supporting the one or more lines (electrical wires (paragraph [0102])) outside of the holding part (293), wherein the stabilizing element (277) is fixed with respect to the holding part (293) of each secondary holder (275). In regards to claim 12, Jackson teaches the system according to claim 10, wherein each lifting structure (see figure 10) has the same positional and orientational relationship with its associated attachment part (see figure 10). In regards to claim 16, Jackson teaches the assembly according to claim 2, wherein the assembly comprises cable harness (electrical wires (paragraph [0102])), and wherein the one or more lines (electrical wires (paragraph [0102]) are a plurality of electric cables of the cable harness (759, see figure 37). In regards to claim 17, Jackson teaches the assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a stabilizing element (277) fixed with respect to the holding part (293) and supporting the one or more lines (electrical wires (paragraph [0102])) outside of the holding part (293). In regards to claim 18, Jackson teaches the assembly according to claim 2, wherein the attachment part comprises one or more attachment features (287, 289) configured to attach to a target element (283) of the target structure (271) by snap-fit (paragraph [0100]) see figure 11). In regards to claim 19, Jackson teaches the assembly according to claim 2, wherein a molded body molded over the one or more lines (molding, paragraph [0003]). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Saitou et al. (US 2023/0041080) teaches an electric bundling robot; Liu et al. (US 2022/0140583) teaches a cable clamp and method. Communication Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KRYSTAL ROBINSON whose telephone number is (571)272-9258. The examiner can normally be reached on 9-5 M-F. 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, Timothy Dole can be reached on (571)-272-2229. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /KRYSTAL ROBINSON/Examiner, Art Unit 2848
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 16, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 29, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
86%
Grant Probability
81%
With Interview (-5.3%)
1y 11m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 778 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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