Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 26, 2026
Application No. 19/111,950

A Plate Heat Exchanger

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Mar 14, 2025
Priority
Sep 20, 2022 — EU 22196564.3 +1 more
Examiner
NIEVES, NELSON J
Art Unit
3763
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Alfa Laval Corporate AB
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
76%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
11m
Est. Remaining
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 76% — above average
76%
Career Allowance Rate
623 granted / 825 resolved
+5.5% vs TC avg
Strong +16% interview lift
Without
With
+16.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
854
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
§103
47.7%
+7.7% vs TC avg
§102
15.8%
-24.2% vs TC avg
§112
34.3%
-5.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 825 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 1-9 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 the limitation "the mixing zone". There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 8 recites the limitation "a mixing zone". This limitation is unclear and confusing because it is unclear if is referring to the previously mentioned mixing zone. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-9 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: None of the reference of record suggest or render obvious the limitation of that first guiding ribs are arranged in the port portions, which first guiding ribs in every other flow passage between the heat exchanger plates are configured to guide and distribute the first heat exchange medium from the first inlet channel to the heat exchange portion and from the heat exchange portion to the first outlet channel, and in that second guiding ribs are arranged in the port portions, which second guiding ribs in the remaining flow passages between the heat exchanger plates are configured to guide and distribute the second heat exchange medium from the second inlet channel to the heat exchange portion and from the heat exchange portion to the second outlet channel, wherein fins are arranged in the heat exchange portion of the flow passages between the adjacent heat exchanger plates, which fins creates a number of parallel guide channels for each of the first and second heat exchange medium, respective, wherein the fins are created by a corrugated sheet metal, which has wave peaks and wave troughs, and wherein a number of the first and second guiding ribs extend into the mixing zone and abut against the respective end portion of the fins for positioning and guidance of the corrugated sheet metal of fins in the heat exchange portion of the flow passages, in combination with the other claimed elements. Further, it would not have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to make such modification, absent permissible hindsight Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. (see PTO-892). Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NELSON NIEVES whose telephone number is (571)270-0392. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. 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, Frantz Jules can be reached at 571-272-6681. 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. /NELSON J NIEVES/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763 09/16/2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 14, 2025
Application Filed
Sep 18, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

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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
76%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+16.5%)
2y 6m (~11m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 825 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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