Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 23, 2026
Application No. 18/877,053

Motor Vehicle, in Particular Motorcycle or Tilting Vehicle

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Dec 19, 2024
Priority
Sep 14, 2022 — DE 10 2022 123 417.7 +1 more
Examiner
CONDO, VERONICA MARIE
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
5m
Est. Remaining
89%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allowance Rate
174 granted / 212 resolved
+22.1% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+6.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
26 currently pending
Career history
237
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
38.3%
-1.7% vs TC avg
§102
35.7%
-4.3% vs TC avg
§112
23.3%
-16.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 212 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 11-22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Suzuki et al. (US Pat 9,714,064). Regarding claim 11, Suzuki et al. disclose a tilting motor vehicle 2, comprising: at least one lateral adjustable fairing part 20 which is displaceable in a translatory manner from a first position to a second position, wherein the second position is offset relative to the first position at least along a vertical axis of the motor vehicle 2 (see Figures 1-5; Col. 5, lines 9-19). Regarding claim 12, Suzuki et al. disclose the motor vehicle 2 according to claim 11, wherein the fairing part 20 in the second position is configured to protect a driver of the motor vehicle 2 from an airstream (see Figure 1; Col. 5, lines 9-19). Regarding claim 13, Suzuki et al. disclose the motor vehicle 2 according to claim 12, wherein, in the second position, the fairing part 20 protects an upper body half from the airstream (see Figures 1-5; Col. 5, lines 9-19). Regarding claim 14, Suzuki et al. disclose the motor vehicle 2 according to claim 11, further comprising: an adjustment mechanism 24 configured to displace the fairing part 20 at least along the vertical axis (see Figures 1-5; Col. 5, lines 38-42; Col. 6, lines 43-54). Regarding claim 15, Suzuki et al. disclose the motor vehicle 2 according to claim 13, wherein the adjustment mechanism 24 comprises at least one rotating arm 27, wherein the rotating arm 27 has a rotation axis C1 which is oriented perpendicularly, or substantially perpendicularly, to the vertical axis (see Figures 1-5; Col. 5, line 58-Col. 6, line 7). Regarding claim 16, Suzuki et al. disclose the motor vehicle 2 according to claim 13, wherein the adjustment mechanism 24 has a rail system 23 configured to displace the fairing part 20 at least along the vertical axis (see Figures 1-7, 9, and 13; Col. 5, lines 33-57). Regarding claim 17, Suzuki et al. disclose the motor vehicle 2 according to claim 11, wherein the second position is offset relative to the first position counter to a direction of travel (see Figures 1-6; Col. 7, lines 47-54). Regarding claim 18, Suzuki et al. disclose the motor vehicle 2 according to claim 11, further comprising: a fairing 15 which defines an outer skin of the motor vehicle 2 (see Figures 1 and 3), wherein the fairing part 20 in the first position is integrated in the outer skin (see Figure 1; Col. 4, line 62-Col. 5, line 19). Regarding claim 19, Suzuki et al. disclose the motor vehicle 2 according to claim 11, further comprising: a base part 16 on which the fairing part 20 rests in the first position (see Figures 1-6; Col. 5, lines 4-19). Regarding claim 20, Suzuki et al. disclose the motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the base part 16 is a portion of a fairing 15 of the motor vehicle 2, or a separate element (see Figures 1-6; Col. 4, lines 62-Col. 5, line 19). Regarding claim 21, Suzuki et al. disclose the motor vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the adjustment mechanism 24 comprises a manual activation element 38 (see Figures 2-10; Col. 6, lines 43-59). Regarding claim 22, Suzuki et al. disclose the motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the motor vehicle is a motorcycle (see Figure 1; Col. 4, lines 56-61). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Nakano et al. (US Pat 9,937,972) disclose a motorcycle having an adjustable fairing part that moves between a first position and a second position. Srabstein (US Pat 10,286,969) disclose a motorcycle having an adjustable fairing part that moves between a first position and a second position. Schneider (US PG Pub 2022/0281547) discloses a motorcycle having a fairing part that is adjustable and moves between a first position and a second position. Weinelt (US Pat 12,583,543) discloses a motorcycle having a fairing part that is adjustable between a first position and a second position. Vetter (US Pat 5,857,727) discloses a motorcycle with a fairing part that moves between a first position and a second position. Hickman (US Pat 4,355,838) discloses a motorcycle with a fairing part that moves between a first position and a second position. Larive et al. (US Pat 3,815,696) disclose a fairing part for a vehicle that moves between a first position and a second position. Saunders (US Pat 5,855,404) discloses a motorcycle with a fairing part that moves between a first position and a second position. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VERONICA M CONDO whose telephone number is (571)272-9415. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8am-3pm EST. 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, Amy Weisberg can be reached at (571) 270-5500. 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. /VERONICA M CONDO/Examiner, Art Unit 3612 /AMY R WEISBERG/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3612
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Prosecution Timeline

Dec 19, 2024
Application Filed
Oct 06, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
82%
Grant Probability
89%
With Interview (+6.8%)
2y 3m (~5m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 212 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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