Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/866,550

ELECTROMAGNETIC POWERED POOL CLEANING ROBOT

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Nov 17, 2024
Examiner
KAPLAN, HAL IRA
Art Unit
2836
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Maytronics Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
86%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 9m
To Grant
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 86% — above average
86%
Career Allow Rate
756 granted / 879 resolved
+18.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +9% lift
Without
With
+9.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
15 currently pending
Career history
894
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.6%
-37.4% vs TC avg
§103
34.6%
-5.4% vs TC avg
§102
24.4%
-15.6% vs TC avg
§112
31.6%
-8.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 879 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 . Priority Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55. Specification The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Paragraph [0033], line 1, “PCR” should be written out before being used as an abbreviation. Paragraph [0097], line 6, “form 141 floating unit 141” should be “form floating unit 141”. Paragraph [00100], line 3, “communicaiton” should be “communication”. Paragraph [00101], line 1, “communicaiton” should be “communication”. Paragraph [00101], line 3, “sensors 157” should be “sensor 157”. Paragraph [00101], line 4, “measurment” should be “measurement”. Paragraph [00102], line 4, “microcontroller 159” should be “microcontroller 169”. Paragraph [00102], line 5, “input connector 161” should be “output connector 161”. Paragraph [00102], line 6, “WiFi module 162” should be “WiFi module 163”. Paragraph [00102], line 7, “transciver 168” should be “transceiver 168”. Paragraph [00103], line 1, “communicaiton” should be “communication”. Paragraph [00103], line 3, “sensors 167” should be “sensor 167”. Paragraph [00103], line 3, “power amplifier 163” should be “power amplifier 153”. Paragraph [00103], line 4, “conntrolls” should be “controls”. Paragraph [00105], line 3, “an in-situ an in-situ” should be “an in-situ”. Paragraph [00107], line 17, “that here” should be “that there”. Paragraph [00109], line 2, “swivel float 89” should be “swivel float 81”. Paragraph [00111], line 4, “electronical” should be “electrical”. Paragraph [00111], line 4, “communicaiton” should be “communication”. Appropriate correction is required. Drawings The drawings are objected to because of the following informalities: In Figure 20, reference numeral 37 should be 73 (see paragraph [0097], line 3 in the specification. The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they do not include the following reference sign(s) mentioned in the description: 81 in Figure 3 (see paragraph [0077], line 2), 401 in Figure 8 (see paragraph [0083], lines 5-6), and 6 and 89 in Figure 26 (see paragraph [0087], line 3; paragraph [0091], lines 3-5; and paragraph [0077], line 4). The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(5) because they include the following reference character(s) not mentioned in the description: 305 in Figure 7, 98 in Figures 12-13, and 111, 117’, and 119 in Figure 14. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), or amendment to the specification to add the reference character(s) in the description in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(b) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance. Claim Objections Claims 1-3, 5-6, 15, and 21 are objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 1, line 5, “body damper” should be “body bumper” to provide antecedent basis for “the body bumper” in claims 5-6. Claim 1, line 5, “imact” should be “impact”. Claim 2, line 2, “comprises” should be “comprising”. Claim 3, line 3, “interface” should be “interface module”. Claim 5, line 2, “the body bumper” lacks proper antecedent basis. Claim 6, line 2, “the body bumper” lacks proper antecedent basis. Claim 15, line 4, “module are below” should be “module is below”. Claim 21, line 4, “body damper” should be “body bumper”. Claim 21, line 4, “imact” should be “impact”. 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. Claims 1-19 and 21 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. Claim 1 recites the limitation “a ferromagnetic element that is located within an electronics module”. It is unclear if the electronics module is the same electronics module recited in line 7. For examination purposes, it has been assumed that they are the same electronics module. Claims 2-19 inherit this deficiency. Claim 21 recites the limitation “a ferromagnetic element that is located within an electronics module”. It is unclear if the electronics module is the same electronics module recited in lines 5-6. For examination purposes, it has been assumed that they are the same electronics module. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-21 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: Claims 1-19 contain allowable subject matter because none of the prior art of record discloses or suggests a nut bumper for impact protecting a cable that is electrically coupled to an electronics module that is located within an inner space defined by the body, in combination with the remaining claimed features. Claim 21 contains allowable subject matter because none of the prior art of record discloses or suggests a nut bumper for impact protecting a cable that is electrically coupled to an electronics module that is located within an inner space defined by the body, in combination with the remaining claimed features. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HAL KAPLAN whose telephone number is (571)272-8587. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30AM-5:00PM. 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, Rexford Barnie can be reached at 571-272-7492. 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. /HAL KAPLAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 17, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 16, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12603498
Apparatus and method for controlling consumer loads at portable microgrid
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12592564
DC-COUPLED PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER GENERATION SYSTEM, OPERATING STATE SWITCHING METHOD AND DEVICE OF DC-COUPLED PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER GENERATION SYSTEM
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 31, 2026
Patent 12587016
POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM, NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM, AND POWER MANAGEMENT METHOD
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12573856
POWER OPTIMIZERS IN SERIES WITH VOLTAGE SENSORS AND A COMMON REFERENCE SIGNAL
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12567749
METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRICAL NETWORK VARIABLES IN A FEED NETWORK
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 03, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

AI Strategy Recommendation

Get an AI-powered prosecution strategy using examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Powered by AI — typically takes 5-10 seconds

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
86%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+9.1%)
2y 9m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 879 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month