Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 06, 2026
Application No. 18/872,821

BICYCLE BOTTOM BRACKET ASSEMBLY

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Dec 07, 2024
Priority
Jun 27, 2022 — DE 10 2022 115 941.8 +1 more
Examiner
KNUTSON, JACOB D
Art Unit
3611
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Porsche Ebike Performance GmbH
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
79%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
10m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 79% — above average
79%
Career Allowance Rate
849 granted / 1069 resolved
+27.4% vs TC avg
Strong +21% interview lift
Without
With
+20.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
21 currently pending
Career history
1088
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.0%
-39.0% vs TC avg
§103
48.1%
+8.1% vs TC avg
§102
21.1%
-18.9% vs TC avg
§112
25.6%
-14.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1069 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 . 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 5 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. Claim 5 recites the limitation "the position sensor" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1 – 4 and 6 – 8 allowed. Claim 5 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the prior art fails to disclose: For claims 1 – 4 and 6 – 8: a bottom bracket shaft arrangement having a bottom bracket shaft; a torsion shaft driven by the bottom bracket shaft ; an output shaft driven by the torsion shaft; a reference arm that is fixed at the introduction location, the reference arm having a reference indicator that refers to a reference scale that is associated with the torsion shaft at the output location in a rotationally secure manner, a stationary, electric torsion sensor that detects the position of the reference indicator in relation to the reference scale.. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. CN-114364604 – comprising a driving device comprising a crank; a drive shaft; a torque detecting device comprising a torsion angle sensor; US-20180118304 – comprising a bottom bracket shaft; pedal cranks; a sensor assembly comprising a first torque sensor and a second torque sensor; and a shaft; DE-102013211438 – comprising a crank; a crankshaft; an output shaft; and a torque sensor; JP-H11105777 – comprising crank pedals; crankshaft; a torsion shaft; a torque detecting means comprising a stroke sensor and torque-displacement conversion mechanism; a first idler shaft; a second idler shaft; and a rotary cylinder; and CN-1071130 – comprising a pressing screw ring with digit and scale and a pressing coil with scale indicating dial. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Jacob D. Knutson whose telephone number is (571)270-5576. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00 am - 4:00 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, Valentin Neacsu can be reached at (571)-272-6265. 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. /JACOB D KNUTSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3611
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 07, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 27, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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2y 10m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12692746
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2y 4m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12686432
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM HAVING A RACK FOR MOVING WHEELS OF A VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR THE INITIAL ASSEMBLY OF AN ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM OF THIS KIND
4y 3m to grant Granted Jul 21, 2026
Patent 12679442
STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE
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Patent 12661940
VEHICLE TRAILER COUPLING MECHANISM AND VEHICLE SUPPORT
2y 7m to grant Granted Jun 23, 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
79%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+20.7%)
2y 6m (~10m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1069 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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