Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 19/010,633

ELECTRONIC DEVICE RACK, ELECTRONIC DEVICE UNIT, AND METHOD OF INSTALLING ELECTRONIC DEVICE RACK

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Jan 06, 2025
Priority
Mar 14, 2024 — JP 2024-040035
Examiner
KRYCINSKI, STANTON L
Art Unit
3631
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
NEC Corporation
OA Round
2 (Final)
68%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
7m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 68% — above average
68%
Career Allowance Rate
699 granted / 1024 resolved
+16.3% vs TC avg
Strong +28% interview lift
Without
With
+28.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 2m
Avg Prosecution
34 currently pending
Career history
1048
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.4%
-38.6% vs TC avg
§103
40.9%
+0.9% vs TC avg
§102
21.5%
-18.5% vs TC avg
§112
32.9%
-7.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1024 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION Claim Objections Claim 5 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 5, line 2, it appears “a first plate-shaped member” should read --the first plate-shaped member-- 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. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claims 1, 3, 5-7 and 9-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. In regards to claim 1, lines 13-18 recite, “a first link member including: a first end supported by the first support member to be rotatable; and a second end supported by the first support member to be slidable in the longitudinal direction; and a second link member including: a third end supported by the second support member to be rotatable; and a fourth end supported by the second support member to be slidable in the longitudinal direction” (emphasis added). The claim is indefinite because it appears the second end (33b, Fig. 2) of the first link member is supported by the second support member (slidably at 31h). In addition, it appears the fourth end of the second link member is support by the first support member (slidably at 31h). Appropriate explanation or correction is required. Claims 3, 5-7 and 9-12 are rejected based on their respective dependencies. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1, 3, 5-7 and 9-12 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The closest prior art of record is discussed in the previous Office action on the merits. The prior art of record does not anticipate or make obvious an electronic device rack having the combination of structural and functional limitations of Applicant’s claimed invention. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. See rejection above. Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STANTON L KRYCINSKI whose telephone number is (571)270-5381. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 10:00AM-5:00PM 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, Jonathan Liu can be reached at (571)272-8227. 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. /Stanton L Krycinski/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3631
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 06, 2025
Application Filed
Apr 08, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jul 08, 2026
Response Filed
Jul 29, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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Patent 12690671
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Patent 12685410
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3y 0m to grant Granted Jul 21, 2026
Patent 12679511
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2y 0m 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

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
68%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+28.2%)
2y 2m (~7m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1024 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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