Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/903,646

PANEL BOX ATTACHMENT FOR A FLUID STORAGE TANK

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Oct 01, 2024
Examiner
THOMAS, KAREEN KAY
Art Unit
3736
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Hydrera Water Services LLC
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
77%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 4m
To Grant
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 77% — above average
77%
Career Allow Rate
1015 granted / 1323 resolved
+6.7% vs TC avg
Strong +17% interview lift
Without
With
+17.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
30 currently pending
Career history
1353
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
35.2%
-4.8% vs TC avg
§102
37.4%
-2.6% vs TC avg
§112
23.1%
-16.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1323 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. Claim(s) 1 is anticipated is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hanna (US2013/0336756). Hanna teaches a panel box attachment (Fig. 5A) that is configured to attach to a panel box on a tank panel a panel box plate (160); at least two fixed pins (176) attached to said panel box plate; at least two retractable panel box pins (the additional other pins out of the four pins 176, where the pins can be retractable when unscrewed) that can be moved to extend outwardly from said panel box pin and inwardly to a retracted position in said panel box plate (where the pins can be retractable when unscrewed) a pivot cylinder (where cylinder 180 is considered a pivot cylinder because it pivots member 160) that is attached to said panel box plate to pivot said panel box plate. Allowable Subject Matter The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Claims 2-4 are allowable. Regarding claim 2, lines 13-18 are not obvious, in light of the other claim limitations of claim 2. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KAREEN KAY THOMAS whose telephone number is (571)270-5611. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00am-5:00pm. 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, Orlando E. Aviles can be reached at 571-270-5531. 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. /KAREEN K THOMAS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3736
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 01, 2024
Application Filed
Dec 23, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Apr 02, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Apr 02, 2026
Response Filed
Apr 03, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12600561
Fluid Storage Tank Including a Flexible Bladder Supported on a Collapsible Rigid Frame
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12600562
Waste Bin Arrangement
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12600556
INSULATING CONTAINER FOR TAKEAWAY PIZZA
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12600530
CAP
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12589915
DISPENSING TAP EQUIPPED WITH FLEXIBLE INTERNAL VALVE
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 31, 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
77%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+17.1%)
2y 4m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1323 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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