Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 15, 2026
Application No. 18/842,889

DIE FOR A BENDING OR FOLDING APPARATUS, AND A BENDING OR FOLDING APPARATUS

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Aug 30, 2024
Priority
Mar 02, 2022 — AT A 50137/2022 +1 more
Examiner
ALAWADI, MOHAMMED S
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Trumpf Maschinen Austria GmbH & Co. Kg
OA Round
2 (Final)
74%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
7m
Est. Remaining
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 74% — above average
74%
Career Allowance Rate
538 granted / 723 resolved
+14.4% vs TC avg
Strong +24% interview lift
Without
With
+23.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
85 currently pending
Career history
779
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
40.5%
+0.5% vs TC avg
§102
23.7%
-16.3% vs TC avg
§112
32.8%
-7.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 723 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 . Claim Objections Claim 20 objected to because of the following informalities: Regarding claim 20, the phrase “the same length as or longer than the workpiece" should be changed to “a same length as or longer than the workpiece”. Appropriate correction is required. 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. Claim 20 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 20 recites the limitation "the same length" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Allowable Subject Matter The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Regarding claims 1 and 12, the closet prior art is Maeda (US20160121382A1), however in the opinion of the Examiner that the arts of record neither anticipates nor render obvious the limitation of “a support section that is rigidly attached to the sliding element, wherein the support section rests against a support point on the base body when the bending beam and the sliding element are in the base position, wherein the support point is stationary during the folding operation, and wherein in the folding position the support section is lifted off the support point and free of force” in combination with the other limitations of the claim. Claims 2-11 and 14-18 are depended from claim 1. Claims 13 and 19-20 is depended from claim 12. Claim 20 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. Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MOHAMMED S ALAWADI whose telephone number is (571)272-2224. The examiner can normally be reached 08:00 am- 05:00 pm. 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, CHRISTOPHER TEMPLETON can be reached at (571)270-1477. 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. /MOHAMMED S. ALAWADI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3725
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 30, 2024
Application Filed
Apr 29, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jul 09, 2026
Response Filed
Jul 29, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §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

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
74%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+23.6%)
2y 7m (~7m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 723 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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