Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 15, 2026
Application No. 18/965,701

DECORATIVE SECURITY FASTENER

Non-Final OA §102§Other
Filed
Dec 02, 2024
Priority
Dec 18, 2019 — provisional 62/950,096 +2 more
Examiner
LIU, HENRY Y
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
MACLEAN-FOGG Company
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
76%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 0m
Est. Remaining
89%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 76% — above average
76%
Career Allowance Rate
1010 granted / 1330 resolved
+15.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +13% lift
Without
With
+12.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
26 currently pending
Career history
1346
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
49.9%
+9.9% vs TC avg
§102
27.0%
-13.0% vs TC avg
§112
12.8%
-27.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1330 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §Other
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 . DETAILED ACTION This is the first action on the merits for application 18/965701. Claims 1-20 are currently pending in this application. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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, 3-8, 10-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by WILSON (2003/0202860). Regarding Claim 1, WILSON teaches A security fastener assembly (130) comprising: a fastener body having a threaded portion (132) for securing the fastener assembly, the fastener body having an attachment portion (146) at a first end along and a keyed security feature (158) formed adjacent the attachment portion; and a cap (10) having an outer a tool bearing surface (14) and internal bore for receiving the attachment portion (146) of the fastener body, wherein the threaded portion (132) of the fastener body is installed with rotation in a first direction, and wherein the cap (10) freely spins on the fastener body while the cap (10) is retained on the fastener body. Regarding Claim 3, WILSON teaches wherein the keyed security feature (158) is formed external to the attachment portion (158 is external to 146 in the axial direction) on the fastener body. Regarding Claims 4, 13, WILSON teaches wherein the keyed security feature (158) comprises at least one recess having a unique security shape being inoperable with standard tools. Regarding Claims 5, 11, 18, WILSON teaches wherein the keyed security feature (158) is formed on a ledge (154) of the fastener body. Regarding Claims 6, 12, WILSON teaches wherein the keyed security feature (158) comprises a recess is defined along a periphery of the ledge (154). Regarding Claims 7, 10, 16, WILSON teaches wherein the cap is metal [0023]. Regarding Claim 8, WILSON teaches A security fastener assembly comprising: a fastener body having a threaded fastener portion (132) for securing the fastener assembly, the fastener body having an attachment portion (146) formed as a protrusion at a first end and has a keyed security feature (158) formed adjacent the attachment portion (146); and a cap (10) having an outer a tool bearing surface (14) and internal bore for receiving the attachment portion (146) of the fastener body, wherein engaging the tool bearing surface (14) of the cap (10) does not rotate the threaded portion (132) of the fastener body. Regarding Claim 14, WILSON teaches A security fastener assembly comprising: a fastener body having a threaded fastener portion (132) for securing the fastener assembly, the fastener body having an attachment portion (146) at a first end and has a keyed security recess (158) formed adjacent the attachment portion (146), wherein the keyed security recess has a unique security shape being inoperable with standard tools; and a cap (10) having an outer a tool bearing surface (14) and internal bore for receiving the attachment portion (146) of the fastener body, wherein engaging the tool bearing surface (14) of the cap (10) does not rotate the threaded portion (132) of the fastener body, wherein the fastener body is rotatable with the keyed security feature (158). Regarding Claim 15, WILSON teaches wherein the threaded fastener portion (132) of the fastener body is installed with rotation in a first direction, and wherein engaging the tool bearing surface (14) of the cap (10) and rotating in a second direction opposite the first direction does not rotate the threaded fastener portion (132) of the fastener body, and wherein the fastener body is removable with the keyed security recess (158). Regarding Claim 17, WILSON teaches wherein the attachment portion (146) on the fastener body has a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is inserted into the internal bore when the cap (10) is retained on the fastener body. Regarding Claim 19, WILSON teaches wherein the keyed security recess (158) comprises a plurality of grooves defined along a periphery of the ledge (154)(Fig. 5). Regarding Claim 20, WILSON teaches and a security drive tool having a tool bearing tip shaped to engage the keyed security feature (158) for removing the fastener body from the vehicle [0031]. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 2, 9 are 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. The prior art does not teach or suggest wherein the fastener body is removable with the keyed security feature without removing the cap with the other elements in Claims 2, 9. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HENRY Y LIU whose telephone number is (571)270-7018. The examiner can normally be reached 9-5:30 ET. 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, ROBERT W HODGE can be reached at 5712722097. 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. HENRY Y. LIU Examiner Art Unit 3654 /HENRY Y LIU/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3654
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Prosecution Timeline

Dec 02, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 03, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §Other (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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BELT
1y 8m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
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1y 6m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
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Vehicle wheel brake and brake component having an evaporable material
2y 7m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12692927
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1y 8m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12680592
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2y 11m to grant Granted Jul 14, 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
76%
Grant Probability
89%
With Interview (+12.7%)
2y 8m (~1y 0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1330 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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