Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 28, 2026
Application No. 18/872,901

AN AUTOMATED TORQUE DEVICE FOR INSTALLING AND EXTRACTING FASTENING ELEMENTS FOR MILL LINERS

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Dec 09, 2024
Priority
Jun 10, 2022 — nonprovisional of PCTCL2022050061
Examiner
COZART, JERMIE E
Art Unit
3726
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Mi Robotic Solutions S A
OA Round
2 (Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
11m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
766 granted / 915 resolved
+13.7% vs TC avg
Minimal +3% lift
Without
With
+3.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
935
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
§103
43.2%
+3.2% vs TC avg
§102
17.6%
-22.4% vs TC avg
§112
31.0%
-9.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 915 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 . Drawings The drawings were received on 6/23/2026. These drawings are acceptable. 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 6-9, 11, 12, 14, and 18 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 6 recites the limitation "the first compensating plate" in line 4 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 6 recites the limitation "the front plate" in line 9 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 7 recites the limitation "the pneumatic movement assembly" in lines 3-4 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 8 recites the limitation "the rail support plate" in line 5 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 11 recites the limitation "the upper plate" in line 2 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 12 recites the limitation "the front plate" in line 2 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 14 recites the limitation "the at one of the bolts" in lines 4-5 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 18 recites the limitation "the exchanger fastening plate" in lines 4-5 of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-5, 10, 13, 15-17, and 19 are allowed. Claims 6-9, 11, 12, 14, and 18 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 JERMIE E COZART whose telephone number is (571)272-4528. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8:30am - 7:00pm. 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, Sunil Singh can be reached at 571-272-3460. 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. /JERMIE E COZART/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3799 July 11, 2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 09, 2024
Application Filed
Nov 15, 2025
Non-Final Rejection (signed) — §112
Dec 23, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jun 23, 2026
Response Filed
Jul 15, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jul 24, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12661249
SYSTEMS FOR DRY TISSUE VALVES AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF
1y 8m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Patent 12654334
Fastener Installation Assembly, an End-Effector Tool, and a Method
1y 4m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026
Patent 12649180
METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING IRON GOLF CLUB HEAD
2y 8m to grant Granted Jun 09, 2026
Patent 12636172
SCAFFOLDS HAVING A RADIOPAQUE MARKER AND METHODS FOR ATTACHING A MARKER TO A SCAFFOLD
1y 2m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12629912
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BURNISHING A REPLICA TAPE
1y 6m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
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
84%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (+3.2%)
2y 7m (~11m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 915 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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