Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 17, 2026
Application No. 18/852,267

HYDRODYNAMIC AUTOMATIC CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
May 06, 2025
Examiner
BOES, TERENCE
Art Unit
3618
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
unknown
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
68%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 10m
To Grant
89%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 68% — above average
68%
Career Allow Rate
534 granted / 789 resolved
+15.7% vs TC avg
Strong +21% interview lift
Without
With
+21.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 10m
Avg Prosecution
17 currently pending
Career history
806
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.1%
-37.9% vs TC avg
§103
38.4%
-1.6% vs TC avg
§102
34.1%
-5.9% vs TC avg
§112
23.6%
-16.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 789 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Drawings New corrected drawings in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in this application because the drawings are unclear. Figures 1 and 2 are of insufficient quality so as to allow the reference characters to be discernable and for the drawings to be closely examined. Figures 3-5 lack reference characters. Applicant is advised to employ the services of a competent patent draftsperson outside the Office, as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office no longer prepares new drawings. The corrected drawings are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. The requirement for corrected drawings will not be held in abeyance. 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 1 is 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. The claims appear to be a direct translation from a foreign language. The claims are generally narrative and indefinite, failing to conform with current U.S. practice. They appear to be a literal translation into English from a foreign document and are replete with grammatical errors and idiomatic language too numerous to list in their entirety. What follows are a few examples. The examiner suggests rewriting the claim to correct for grammatical errors and indefinite language in accordance with U.S. practice. Claim 1, line 3 recites “certain distances”. It is unclear as to what would constitute a “certain distance”. Claim 1, line 4 recites “similar” pump wheels. It is unclear as to what would constitute a “similar” pump wheel. Regarding claim 1, line 4, the phrase "like frying pans" renders the claim(s) indefinite because the claim(s) include(s) elements not actually disclosed (those encompassed by " like"), thereby rendering the scope of the claim(s) unascertainable. See MPEP § 2173.05(d). Claim 1, line 11 recites “a certain distance”. It is unclear as to what would constitute a “certain distance”. Claim 1, line 13 recites “a certain arc”. It is unclear as to what would constitute a “certain arc”. Claim 1 recites the limitation "the outer grooves" in 22. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 1 recites the limitation "certain mass" in 22. It is unclear as to what would constitute a “certain mass”. Claim 1 recites the limitation "the collapsible gearbox housing" in 26. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 1 recites the limitation "the collapsible gearbox housing" in 26. It is unclear as to how the disclosed gearbox is “collapsible” and therefore the scope of coverage sought it unclear. Claim 1 recites the limitation "the reverse mechanism and the chassis of the vehicle" in the final line of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim. Allowable Subject Matter Claim 1 would be allowable if rewritten or amended 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. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the prior art neither discloses nor renders obvious the claimed combination including: there are rows of holes inserted into which are axles of movable blades curved in a certain arc, L-shaped control weights are installed with the possibility of limited rotation, while first ends of the L-shaped weights are inserted into the outer grooves of the central disk, and the second ends, having a certain mass, are directed counterclockwise and have the ability to move from the central disk to the gearbox housing. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 2022/0097521 A1 discloses a structurally similar device. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TERENCE BOES whose telephone number is (571)272-4898. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 10-6:30. 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, Minnah Seoh can be reached at (571) 270-7778. 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. TERENCE BOES Primary Examiner Art Unit 3618 /TERENCE BOES/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3618
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Prosecution Timeline

May 06, 2025
Application Filed
Jan 05, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12571464
CAM AND HARMONIC REDUCER
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12553504
STRAIN WAVE DRIVE
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 17, 2026
Patent 12553505
GEARBOX
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 17, 2026
Patent 12553501
Hydrostatic Rotating Machine with Radial Pistons and with Improved Distribution
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 17, 2026
Patent 12540659
SCREW ACTUATORS
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 03, 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
68%
Grant Probability
89%
With Interview (+21.3%)
2y 10m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 789 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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