Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 04, 2026
Application No. 18/895,392

KEYCAP LIFTING MECHANISM AND LONG RECTANGULAR KEYSWITCH STRUCTURE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Sep 25, 2024
Priority
Sep 28, 2023 — provisional 63/540,942 +2 more
Examiner
JIMENEZ, ANTHONY R
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Darfon Electronics Corp.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1m
Est. Remaining
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allowance Rate
976 granted / 1107 resolved
+28.2% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+7.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 2m
Avg Prosecution
41 currently pending
Career history
1124
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
43.1%
+3.1% vs TC avg
§102
28.6%
-11.4% vs TC avg
§112
26.3%
-13.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1107 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 . Claims 1-17 are pending in the current application. Claim Objections Regarding Claim 1, line 2, and each subsequent occurrence in the claim set, perhaps the term “long side” should be changed to “long-side.” A similar objection applies to, e.g., Claim 1, line 18, Claim 4, line 2, Claim 7, the 2nd to the last line, etc. Regarding Claim 1, line 3, and each subsequent occurrence in the claim set, perhaps the term “short side” should be changed to “short-side.” A similar objection applies to, e.g., Claim 4, line 3, Claim 8, line 3, Claim 9, line 4, etc. Regarding Claim 7, the 5th to the last line, perhaps the term “shaft” should be changed to “shafts.” Regarding Claim 7, the 3rd to the last line, perhaps the term “equals” should be changed to “equal.” Regarding Claim 9, the 2nd to the last line, perhaps the term “said” should be changed to “the” for claim language consistency. 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. Claims 1-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. Specifically, regarding Claim 1, line 1, the term “long” is indefinite. A similar rejection applies to each subsequent occurrence in the claim set (e.g., Claim 3, the 3rd to the last line). Regarding Claim 1, the 4th to the last line, it is not clear how a “first base hole” comprises a “projection.” Regarding Claim 1, the last and the 2nd to the last line, it is not clear how a “second base hole” comprises a “projection.” Regarding Claim 4, line 1, the term “long” is indefinite. A similar rejection applies to each subsequent occurrence in the claim set (e.g., Claim 3, the 3rd to the last line). Regarding Claim 4, line 5, the term “long” is indefinite. A similar rejection applies to each subsequent occurrence in the claim set (e.g., Claim 4, line 6). Regarding Claim 4, line 11, the term “long” is indefinite. A similar rejection applies to each subsequent occurrence in the claim set (e.g., Claim 4, line 12). Regarding Claim 8, line 1, the term “long” is indefinite. A similar rejection applies to each subsequent occurrence in the claim set (e.g., Claim 3, the 3rd to the last line). Regarding Claim 15, line 1, each instance, the term “long” is indefinite. A similar rejection applies to each subsequent occurrence in the claim set. Regarding Claim 15, the 12th to the last line, the language “projection of the sliding hole” is indefinite. It is not clear how a “hole” comprises a projection. Regarding Claim 15, the 9th to the last line, the language “projection of the holder hole” is indefinite. It is not clear how a “hole” comprises a projection. Regarding Claim 15, the 4th to the last line, the language “projection of the… first base hole” is indefinite. It is not clear how a “hole” comprises a projection. Regarding Claim 15, the last and 2nd to the last line, the language “projection of the… second base hole” is indefinite. It is not clear how a “hole” comprises a projection. Regarding Claim 16, line 1, each instance, the term “long” is indefinite. A similar rejection applies to each subsequent occurrence in the claim set. Regarding Claim 16, the 13th to the last line, the language “projection of the sliding hole” is indefinite. It is not clear how a “hole” comprises a projection. Regarding Claim 16, the 10th to the last line, the language “projection of the holder hole” is indefinite. It is not clear how a “hole” comprises a projection. Regarding Claim 17, line 1, each instance, the term “long” is indefinite. A similar rejection applies to each subsequent occurrence in the claim set. Regarding Claim 17, the 7th to the last line, the language “projection of the sliding hole” is indefinite. It is not clear how a “hole” comprises a projection. Regarding Claim 17, the 4th to the last line, the language “projection of the holder hole” is indefinite. It is not clear how a “hole” comprises a projection. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to Applicant's disclosure. Tsai (U.S. Pat. No. 6,020,566) and Ren (U.S. Pat. No. 9,972,455 B2) each disclose a keycap lifting mechanism comprising first and second supports, but do not disclose first and second base hole projections. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANTHONY R. JIMENEZ whose telephone number is 313-446-6518. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Thursday, 1030am - 9pm. 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, Renee Luebke, can be reached at (571) 272-2009. 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. /ANTHONY R JIMENEZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 25, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 13, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (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
88%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+7.0%)
2y 2m (~1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1107 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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