Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 19/144,747

A WEARABLE PROTECTION DEVICE

Non-Final OA §102§Other
Filed
Jun 30, 2025
Priority
Jan 31, 2023 — DE 102023102340.3 +1 more
Examiner
HALE, GLORIA M
Art Unit
3732
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Autoliv Development AB
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
73%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 1m
Est. Remaining
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 73% — above average
73%
Career Allowance Rate
1269 granted / 1738 resolved
+3.0% vs TC avg
Strong +19% interview lift
Without
With
+19.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 2m
Avg Prosecution
21 currently pending
Career history
1753
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.0%
-39.0% vs TC avg
§103
35.7%
-4.3% vs TC avg
§102
6.9%
-33.1% vs TC avg
§112
36.4%
-3.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1738 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §Other
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 § 102 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1 -14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a2 as being anticipated by Lakic (US 5846063. In regard to claim 1, Lakic discloses a wearable protection device ( 583,575)for protection of at least a body part of a wearer(see col. 35,lines 16-36 and col. 41, lines 5-30, the device (583, 575) comprising a first inflatable element (600, 183); a second inflatable element 602, 197) and inflatable arrangement (410,612,614,294, 295, 170) actable to direct flow of inflating gas into each inflatable element (600, 602, 183, 197) thereby (i) inflate the first inflatable element (600, 183) to a first peak inflation pressure (col. 35, lines 16-36 and col. 40,l,ines 48- col. 41, line 4); and (ii) inflate the second inflatable element (602, 197) to a second peak inflation pressure as in col. 35, line 16-36, col. 40, lines 48-col. 41, line4) the device (583,575) wherein said first and said second inflatable elements (600, 602, 183, 197) are fluidly isolated from one another (fig, 120, 54, 147, col. 35, line 16-36 and col. 40, lines 48-col. 41, line 4) and aid first and second peak inflation pressures as in col. 35, lines 16-36, col. 40, line 48- col. 41, line 4) are different (col. 35, lines 16-36; col. 40, line 48- col. 41, line 4). The inflation arrangement as claimed in claims 2-5 are disclosed in col. 35, lines 16-36, col. 40, lines 48-col41, line 4 with elements 410, 612,614, 29, 295 and 170 to direct the gas flow into elements 6000, 602, 183,197 and to the first and second peak inflation levels as in claims 3-5. IN regard to claims 6-10 and 13-15 Lakic discloses the first inflatable volume as being different than the second inflatable volume in claim 6 and in claim 7 wherein the first inflatable volume is greater than the second inflatable volume and wherein the second peak inflation pressure is greater than the first peak pressure as claimed in claim8 as in col. 35, lines 16-36, col. 39, line 23 – col. 41, line 54. In regard to claims 9-12 Lakic discloses the inflatable elements arranged adjacent to the body parts to be protected when the device is worn by a wearer as in figs. 54, 120, 146-150 and as discussed in col. 35. Lines 16-36 and col. 40, lines 48-col. 41, line 4). In regard to claim 14 Lakic discloses the wearable protection device as in claim 1 and wherein the first and second inflatable elements are physically interconnected and wherein the device is in combination with a wearable garment of a shield liner as in col. 35, lines 16-36 col. 40, line 48-col. 41, line 4. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GLORIA M HALE whose telephone number is (571)272-4984. The examiner can normally be reached MON.-THURS.. 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, Alissa Tompkins can be reached at 1-571-272-3425. 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. /GLORIA M HALE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3732
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 30, 2025
Application Filed
Jun 03, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §Other (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
73%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+19.2%)
2y 2m (~1y 1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1738 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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