Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/948,097

SLIDE RAIL ASSEMBLY

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Nov 14, 2024
Priority
May 31, 2024 — TW 113120477
Examiner
TEFERA, HIWOT E
Art Unit
3637
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
King Slide Technology Co. Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
74%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
7m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 74% — above average
74%
Career Allowance Rate
606 granted / 814 resolved
+22.4% vs TC avg
Strong +25% interview lift
Without
With
+24.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
21 currently pending
Career history
843
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
83.9%
+43.9% vs TC avg
§102
6.8%
-33.2% vs TC avg
§112
8.2%
-31.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 814 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 1. 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. 2. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US Patent 10,477,965 B1 (Chen ‘965). With respect to claim 1, Chen ‘965 shows a slide rail assembly (20), comprising: a first rail (28, Fig.3) arranged with a predetermined feature (40, Fig.3) and a blocking feature (50); a second rail (30, Fig.3) longitudinally movable relative to the first rail; a synchronization member (380, Fig.4), an engaging member (64b, Fig.4) and an auxiliary member (other end of 38 opposite 380, Fig.4) movably mounted on the second rail (30); and a third rail (34, Fig.3) longitudinally movable relative to the second rail (30) and arranged with a working feature (80); wherein during a process of the third rail (34) being moved along an opening direction (D1), the third rail (34) is configured to drive the second rail (30) to synchronously move by the working feature (80) abutting against the synchronization member (380) in a first state (380, FIg.7 “the synchronizing feature 80 is able to abut against an engaging section 380 of the synchronizing member 38 so as to make the second rail 30 and the third rail 34 moved synchronously in a first direction D1”; Col.7 lines 28-32); wherein during a process of the third rail (34) and the second rail (30) being synchronously moved along the opening direction (D1), the blocking feature (50) is configured to abut against the auxiliary member (other end of 38 opposite to 380, Fig.9) to move the auxiliary member from a first auxiliary position (Fig.7) to a second auxiliary position (Fig.9) relative to the second rail, in order to drive the synchronization member (380, Fig.9) to switch from the first state (Fig.7) to a second state (Fig.9), such that the working feature (80, Fig.7, FIg.9) of the third rail no longer abuts against the synchronization member (380, Fig.9), so as to unsynchronize movement between the third rail (34) and the second rail (30); wherein when the second rail (30) is located at an extended position relative to the first rail (28), the engaging member (64b, Fig.9) is configured to be engaged with the predetermined feature (40, Fig.9), in order to prevent the second rail (30) from being moved along a retracting direction (D2) from the extended position (“as to drive the third structure 64b of the positioning member 64 to abut against the first structure 40 of the first rail 28 to prevent the second rail 30 from being moved relative to the first rail 28 in a second direction D2”). With respect to claim 2, wherein the second rail (30) is movably mounted between the first rail (28) and the third rail (34). With respect to claim 3, wherein the auxiliary member (end of 38 opposite to 380, FIg.9) is longitudinally movable relative to the second rail (30). With respect to claim 4, wherein the auxiliary member and the second rail (30) respectively have a first limiting feature (protrusion) and a second limiting feature (H2, FIg.4) configured to interact with each other. With respect to claim 5, further comprising an elastic member (66, Fig.4) configured to provide an elastic force to the auxiliary member (“the elastic member 66 further comprises a section elastic section 66b configured to provide an elastic force to the synchronizing member 38” Col.5 lines 60-63). With respect to claim 6, wherein the elastic member (66b) is connected between the second rail (30) and the auxiliary member (38). With respect to claim 7, wherein the synchronization member (380) and the engaging member (64b) are pivotally connected to the second rail through a shaft member (68, Fig.4). With respect to claim 8, wherein the shaft member (68, FIg.4) is arranged in a direction substantially identical to a height direction of the second rail (30, Fig.4, Fig.5). With respect to claim 9, further comprising an elastic structure (66) configured to provide an elastic force to at least one of the synchronization member (380) and the engaging member (64b). With respect to claim 10, wherein the blocking feature (50, Fig.3) is a protrusion (Fig.3). With respect to claims 11-20, Chen ‘965 discloses the recited limitations as discussed above. 3. Claims 11-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US Patent 8,585,164 B2 (Chen ‘164). With respect to claim 11, Chen ‘164 shows a slide rail assembly, comprising: a first rail (10, Fig.1) arranged with a blocking feature (16, Fig.1); a second rail (12) longitudinally movable relative to the first rail (10); a synchronization member (50, at 60, Fig.2) movably mounted on the second rail; an auxiliary member (22 and 46, Fig.3) movable relative to the second rail between a first auxiliary position (Fig.3) and a second auxiliary position (Fig.4); and a third rail (14) longitudinally movable relative to the second rail (12) and arranged with a working feature (64, Fig.1); wherein during a process of the third rail (14) being moved along an opening direction, the third rail (14) is configured to drive the second rail (12) to synchronously move by the working feature (64) abutting against the synchronization member (50 at 60, Fig.5); wherein during a process of the third rail (14) and the second rail (12) being synchronously moved along the opening direction (Col.3 lines 44-50), the blocking feature (16) is configured to abut against the auxiliary member (at 46, Fig.4) to linearly move the auxiliary member from the first auxiliary position (Fig.3) to the second auxiliary position (Fig.4) relative to the second rail (12), in order to drive the synchronization member (50, at 60, FIg.3, Fig.4) to move, such that the working feature (64) of the third rail (14) no longer abuts against the synchronization member (50, see Fig.4), so as to unsynchronize movement between the third rail (14) and the second rail (12). With respect to claim 12, wherein the second rail (12) is movably mounted between the first rail (10) and the third rail (14, Fig.1). With respect to claim 13, wherein the auxiliary member (46 and 22) is movably mounted on the second rail (12, Fig.3, Fig.4). With respect to claim 14, wherein the auxiliary member (46 and 22) and the second rail (12) respectively have a first limiting feature (40, 28, Fig.1) and a second limiting feature (48, 46/26 and 28) configured to interact with each other. With respect to claim 15, further comprising an elastic member (44) configured to provide an elastic force to the auxiliary member. With respect to claim 16, wherein the elastic member (44) is connected between the second rail (12) and the auxiliary member (22, Fig.5). With respect to claim 17, wherein the synchronization member (50) is pivotally connected to the second rail (12) through a shaft member (62, FIg.2). With respect to claim 18, wherein the shaft member (62) is arranged in a direction substantially identical to a height direction of the second rail (12, Fig.2). With respect to claim 19, further comprising an elastic structure (52, Fig.2) configured to provide an elastic force to the synchronization member (50). With respect to claim 20, wherein the blocking feature (16) is a protrusion (Fig.1). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HIWOT E TEFERA whose telephone number is (571)270-3320. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-6PM. 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, Daniel Troy can be reached at 5712703742. 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. /HIWOT E TEFERA/Examiner, Art Unit 3637
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 14, 2024
Application Filed
Mar 17, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12638232
REFRIGERATOR
2y 0m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12638230
REFRIGERATOR
2y 0m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12638315
ELECTRONIC COMPONENT HOUSING
1y 8m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12631391
REFRIGERATOR
2y 3m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12624887
REFRIGERATOR
2y 1m to grant Granted May 12, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
74%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+24.8%)
2y 1m (~7m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 814 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month