Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 19/038,860

AIRCRAFT COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE ENGINE ATTACHMENT SYSTEM WHICH HAS COPLANAR ANCHORING POINTS ON THE ENGINE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jan 28, 2025
Priority
Jan 29, 2024 — FR FR2400858
Examiner
XAVIER, VALENTINA
Art Unit
3642
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Airbus Operations SAS
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
75%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 11m
Est. Remaining
84%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 75% — above average
75%
Career Allowance Rate
560 granted / 749 resolved
+22.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +9% lift
Without
With
+9.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 2m
Avg Prosecution
22 currently pending
Career history
772
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
79.8%
+39.8% vs TC avg
§102
10.9%
-29.1% vs TC avg
§112
7.5%
-32.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 749 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 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 – 19 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. Claim 1 recites “a first anchoring point” (line 13) and “a second anchoring point” (line 14). However, later in the claim, the limitations refer to “at least two first anchoring points” (line 16) and “the second anchoring points” (line 17). The term “at least two first anchoring points” lacks proper antecedent basis because the claim previously introduced only a single first anchoring point. Similarly, the phrase “the second anchoring points” lacks proper antecedent basis, as the claim previously recites only a second anchoring point. Claim 1 recites the limitation “connected to the latter”. It is unclear what this refers to. Claim 1 recites the limitation “a same second transverse plane”. It is unclear whether the same refers to it being the same as the first transverse plane. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1 – 19 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112, 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The most relevant prior art of record (Gormley et al. US 11,760,498) teaches a multi-point attachment and multiple anchoring system for transferring loads between structure elements but does not teach the claimed aircraft engine mounting geometry including the multi-plane engine configuration or the articulated engine-to-pylon connections, namely, the first and second right and left extensions positioned on either side of the central body, at least one right reinforcement connecting the first and second right extensions and at least one left reinforcement connecting the first and second left extensions, the first right and left extensions being offset towards a front in a longitudinal direction parallel to the axis of the engine relative to the second right and left extensions and positioned substantially in a first transverse plane, and the engine attachment system comprising at least three connections each comprising a first anchoring point rigidly secured to the primary structure, a second anchoring point rigidly secured to the engine and an articulation connecting the first and second anchoring points. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Gormley et al. (US 11,760,498) – Engine mount waiting fail safe detection Hodgkinson (US 4,997,145) – Engine mount including engine mount failure indication Pome et la. (EP 4,112,476) – Assembly with propeller and electric motor Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VALENTINA XAVIER whose telephone number is (571)272-9853. The examiner can normally be reached 10 am - 6:30 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, Joshua Huson can be reached at (571) 270-5301. 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. /VALENTINA XAVIER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3642
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 28, 2025
Application Filed
Feb 12, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Apr 28, 2026
Response Filed

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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
75%
Grant Probability
84%
With Interview (+9.2%)
3y 2m (~1y 11m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 749 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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