Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 25, 2026
Application No. 18/881,690

Method, computer program and cooling system for monitoring a component of the cooling system in a rolling mill

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jan 06, 2025
Priority
Aug 15, 2022 — DE 10 2022 208 447.0 +1 more
Examiner
ALAWADI, MOHAMMED S
Art Unit
3725
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
SMS group GmbH
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
74%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
9m
Est. Remaining
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 74% — above average
74%
Career Allowance Rate
548 granted / 743 resolved
+3.8% vs TC avg
Strong +25% interview lift
Without
With
+24.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
74 currently pending
Career history
816
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
40.1%
+0.1% vs TC avg
§102
23.9%
-16.1% vs TC avg
§112
32.9%
-7.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 743 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 . Election/Restrictions Claims 16-24 withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 08/05/2026. Applicant’s election without traverse of claims 25-29 in the reply filed on 08/05/2026 is acknowledged. Claim Objections Claim 25 objected to because of the following informalities: Regarding claim 25, the phrase “the spray nozzle (5)” render the claim indefinite because it is unclear what is meant by “and the spray nozzle (4)”. 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 27-28 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. Regarding claim 27, the phrase “calculated from it” render the claim indefinite because it is unclear to which element “it” refers to. Claim 28 is rejected because it depends from claim 26 Regarding claim 28, the phrase “calculated from it” render the claim indefinite because it is unclear to which element “it” refers to. Allowable Subject Matter The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Regarding claim 25, the closet prior art is Weinzierl (US20210354182A1), however in the opinion of the Examiner that the arts of record neither anticipates nor render obvious the limitations of the claim as recited. Claims 26-29 are depended from claim 25. Claim 25 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the claim objections, set forth in this Office action. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MOHAMMED S ALAWADI whose telephone number is (571)272-2224. The examiner can normally be reached 08:00 am- 05:00 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, CHRISTOPHER TEMPLETON can be reached at (571)270-1477. 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. /MOHAMMED S. ALAWADI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3725
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

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

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12770857
FORMATION OF LITHIUM FLUORIDE RICH PROTECTIVE ELECTRODE LAYERS USING ROLLER AND STATIC PRESSING
3y 9m to grant Granted Oct 20, 2026
Patent 12765989
COMPRESSION SYSTEM CONFIGURED TO EMBED GRAFT INTO SURGICAL IMPLANT AND CORRESPONDING METHOD
2y 10m to grant Granted Oct 20, 2026
Patent 12766581
TOOL FOR FORMING COATED SHEET-METAL BLANKS
2y 5m to grant Granted Oct 20, 2026
Patent 12768372
CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR A HARVESTER HEAD
2y 6m to grant Granted Oct 20, 2026
Patent 12759183
TRIM BOARD CUTTING JIG ASSEMBLY AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME
2y 7m to grant Granted Oct 13, 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
74%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+24.6%)
2y 7m (~9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 743 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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