Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/993,984

Remote-controllable power tool for use by a construction robot, and system

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Jan 13, 2025
Priority
Aug 03, 2022 — EU 22188419.0 +2 more
Examiner
LOPEZ, MICHELLE
Art Unit
3731
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 3m
Est. Remaining
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allowance Rate
917 granted / 1120 resolved
+11.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+11.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
23 currently pending
Career history
1148
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.1%
-39.9% vs TC avg
§103
60.7%
+20.7% vs TC avg
§102
13.5%
-26.5% vs TC avg
§112
11.8%
-28.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1120 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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 . This action is in response to the application filed on 01/13/25. Claims 1-11 have been canceled. New claims 12-27 are pending and have been examined. Priority Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 02/19/26 and 03/05/26 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. 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) 12-15 and 23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Rola (WO2016/081443). Regarding claim 12, Rola discloses an electric power tool (30) comprising: a motor (34); and a tool fitting (i.e. spindle 32) for holding a tool (drill mot shown), the motor configured to drive the tool fitting, the power tool being remote-controllable electrically (via controllers 40, 50; Fig. 1). Regarding claim 13, Rola discloses wherein the power tool comprises a data interface (37; Fig. 6). Regarding claims 14-15, Rola discloses wherein the power tool is remote controllable via the data interface; wherein the data interface has a bidirectional design (page 7, lines 22-29; page 8, lines 11-32). Regarding claim 23, Rola discloses a storage battery interface for connecting a battery (not shown; page 8, lines 6-8). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. Claim(s) 16-22 and 24-27 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Rola (WO2016/081443) in view of Mergener et al. (2016/0311094). Regarding claims 16 and 27, Rola discloses wherein the data interface has at least one protector (i.e. the controller adjusts or reduce the speed of the tool; page 11, lines 24-25) capable of protecting a user during manual use of the power tool, if desired. If it can be argued that Rola fails to disclose wherein the protector does not protect a user during manual use of the power tool, then Mergener discloses a power tool being remote-controllable comprising a controller and a data interface for the purposes of enhancing precision and control of the power tool during operation, preventing damages to the tool, while providing safety benefits to the user. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have provided Rola’s power tool with a protector configured to protect a user during manual use of the power tool in order to enhance precision and control of the tool while providing safety benefits to the user. Regarding claim 17, Rola discloses wherein the protector is configured to reduce or stop a speed. Regarding claim 18, Mergener discloses wherein the protector is configured to block (or stop) the operation (i.e. speed) of the motor. Regarding claim 19-22 and 27, it is deemed that Rola’s protector is activable and deactivatable as it is controlled by the controller and the interface, as desired. Regarding claim 24, Rola fails to disclose a data interface, at least part of the data interface being integrated into the storage battery interface. Mergener discloses a storage battery interface (600) for connecting a storage battery (400), and a data interface (Figs. 7-8, 26), at least part of the data interface being integrated into the storage battery interface for the purposes of facilitating monitoring battery key information, such as operational and safety information, optimizing the battery and tool performance. Regarding claims 25-26, Mergener discloses wherein the tool in a handheld power tool, such as a drill. Regarding claim 27, Rola also discloses a construction robot (20). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHELLE LOPEZ whose telephone number is (571)272-4464. The examiner can normally be reached Monday thru Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. 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, Anna Kinsaul can be reached at (571) 270 - 1926. 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. /MICHELLE LOPEZ/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3731
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 13, 2025
Application Filed
May 15, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12661772
IMPACT TOOL
1y 2m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Patent 12653987
DRIVE MODULE OF ELONGATE FLEXIBLE MEDICAL DEVICE OF CATHETER ROBOT
2y 11m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026
Patent 12649223
POWER TOOL AND LOCKING MECHANISMS FOR MANUAL TORQUE APPLICATION
2y 3m to grant Granted Jun 09, 2026
Patent 12648775
SURGICAL INSTRUMENT CONFIGURED TO DETERMINE TREATMENT MODALITY DURING TISSUE CLAMPING
2y 2m to grant Granted Jun 09, 2026
Patent 12649224
OSCILLATING POWER TOOL
1y 6m to grant Granted Jun 09, 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
82%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+11.6%)
2y 9m (~1y 3m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1120 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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