Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/943,800

VARIABLE-PART LIQUID COOLING PUMPING UNIT

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Nov 11, 2024
Priority
Aug 22, 2021 — continuation of 12/171,083
Examiner
ALVARE, PAUL
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Cooler Master Technology Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
58%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 5m
Est. Remaining
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 58% of resolved cases
58%
Career Allowance Rate
348 granted / 604 resolved
-2.4% vs TC avg
Strong +38% interview lift
Without
With
+37.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 2m
Avg Prosecution
43 currently pending
Career history
648
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
§103
87.6%
+47.6% vs TC avg
§102
5.2%
-34.8% vs TC avg
§112
6.7%
-33.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 604 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 . Claim Objections Claim 5 is objected to because of the following informalities: “the fin plate between the flow guiding plate and the water block base” in ll. 5 should be rewritten to be -- the fin plate being disposed between the flow guiding plate and the water block base--, and will be interpreted accordingly. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 5 is objected to because of the following informalities: “the water block set configured to enable direct or indirect contact with a heat source on a contact opposite side of the base cavity” in ll. 9 should be rewritten to be -- the water block set configured to enable direct or indirect contact with a heat source on an opposite side of the base cavity --, and will be interpreted accordingly. 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. Claims 1-7 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, or for pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention. Regarding Claim 1, the limitation “the inlet end disposed at an inlet opposite end of the centric end” in ll. 14 is indefinite, in context, since the structural relationship between the inlet end and the centric end is unclear. It appears from the original disclosure (¶125 and figure 21B) that the “cover diversion opening 759 is disposed at a centric end of the diversion indention 754 near to the inlet port 791” . For Examination purposes and in accordance with the specification and drawings, “the inlet end disposed at an inlet opposite end of the centric end” will be interpreted as – the inlet end and the centric end are disposed at opposite ends of the diversion indentation --. Regarding Claim 1, the limitation “the base end disposed at a base opposite end of the narrowest end” in ll. 16 is indefinite, in context, since the structural relationship between the base end and the narrowest end is unclear. It appears from the original disclosure (¶125 and figure 21B) that the “the water block inlet through hole 732 is disposed at a narrowest end of the funnel-shaped indentation 724 near to the outlet port 799”. For Examination purposes and in accordance with the specification and drawings, “the base end disposed at a base opposite end of the narrowest end” will be interpreted as – the base end and the narrowest end are disposed on opposite ends of the funnel-shaped indentation --. Regarding Claim 1, the limitation “the chamber body surface disposed at a chamber opposite side of the flow guiding plate” in ll. 19 is indefinite, in context, since the structural relationship between the chamber body surface and the flow guiding plate is unclear. It appears from the original disclosure (¶125 and figure 21B) that “a chamber body surface 733 opposite the flow guiding plate surface 723” . For Examination purposes and in accordance with the specification and drawings, “the chamber body surface disposed at a chamber opposite side of the flow guiding plate” will be interpreted as – the chamber body surface is disposed opposing the flow guiding plate – Regarding Claim 2, the limitation “the impeller annular cavity disposed at an impeller opposite side of the stator cavity” in ll. 4 is indefinite, in context, since it cannot be discerned what the structural relationship is between the impeller annular cavity and the stator cavity. It appears from the original disclosure (¶100) that “The rotor housing 266 comprises a stator cavity 267 and an impeller annular cavity 265 opposite the stator cavity 267” . For Examination purposes and in accordance with the specification and drawings, “the impeller annular cavity disposed at an impeller opposite side of the stator cavity” will be interpreted as – the impeller annular cavity and the stator cavity are disposed on opposite sides of the rotor housing– Regarding Claim 3, the limitation “the flow guiding plate outlet disposed cut out at the outlet port” in ll. 2 is indefinite, in context, since it cannot be discerned what structure is associated with the flow guiding plate outlet. For Examination purposes and in accordance with the specification and drawings, “the flow guiding plate outlet disposed cut out at the outlet port” will be interpreted as – the flow guiding plate outlet is disposed as a cut out and fluidly communicated with the outlet port --. Regarding Claim 4, the limitation “the water block cover mounting surface on a mounting opposite side of the water block surface” in ll. 3 is indefinite, in context, since the structural relationship between the water block cover mounting surface and the water block surface cannot be discerned. For Examination purposes and in accordance with the specification and drawings, “the water block cover mounting surface on a mounting opposite side of the water block surface” will be interpreted as – the water block cover mounting surface is disposed on a side opposite of the water block surface --. Regarding Claim 6, the limitation “the impeller cavity inlet opening disposed in the impeller cavity inlet through the chamber body” in ll. 2 is indefinite, in context, the structural relationship between the impeller cavity inlet opening and the impeller cavity inlet cannot be discerned. For Examination purposes and in accordance with the specification and drawings, “the impeller cavity inlet opening disposed in the impeller cavity inlet through the chamber body” will be interpreted as – the impeller cavity inlet opening provides an inlet for working fluid to pass through the chamber body --. Regarding Claim 6, the limitation “the impeller cavity outlet opening disposed through the chamber body at an impeller opposite end of the impeller cavity inlet” in ll. 4 is indefinite, in context, the structural relationship between the impeller cavity outlet opening and the impeller cavity inlet cannot be discerned. For Examination purposes and in accordance with the specification and drawings, “the impeller cavity outlet opening disposed through the chamber body at an impeller opposite end of the impeller cavity inlet” will be interpreted as – the impeller cavity outlet opening allows fluid to travel through the chamber body from the impeller cavity inlet opening --. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-4 and 6 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) set forth in this Office action. Claim 5 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PAUL ALVARE whose telephone number is (571)272-8611. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 0930-1800. 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, Len Tran can be reached at (571) 272-1184. 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. /PAUL ALVARE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 11, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 10, 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
58%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+37.5%)
3y 2m (~1y 5m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 604 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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