Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 24, 2026
Application No. 19/147,761

METHOD OF AUTOMATED PROCESSING OF HIGH-TEMPERATURE-STABLE, CLOSED-PORE, RIGID HARD FOAMS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jul 14, 2025
Priority
Jan 20, 2023 — EU 23152644.3 +1 more
Examiner
YI, STELLA KIM
Art Unit
1742
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Evonik Operations GmbH
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
71%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 11m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 71% — above average
71%
Career Allowance Rate
698 granted / 981 resolved
+6.2% vs TC avg
Strong +28% interview lift
Without
With
+28.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 2m
Avg Prosecution
33 currently pending
Career history
1009
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.9%
-39.1% vs TC avg
§103
51.3%
+11.3% vs TC avg
§102
25.2%
-14.8% vs TC avg
§112
11.8%
-28.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 981 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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) 1-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Evonik Industries Automated production of composites and ROHACELL® structural foam core | Evonik (of record). Regarding claims 1-17, Evonik Industries discloses a method of automated production of lightweight components, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) providing a high-temperature-stable, closed-pore, rigid hard foam; b) providing a fibre reinforcement material; c) automated applying of the fibre reinforcement material to the high-temperature-stable, closed-pore, rigid hard foam; wherein the high-temperature-stable, closed-pore, rigid hard foam has a Tg of > 100°C (rigid foams inherently has a glass transition temperature greater than room temperature which falls within said claimed temperature range); and wherein the method is monitored by a monitoring system that displays and controls the current method steps and positions of an automation unit (the automated fiber-reinforcement placement robotic system of Evonik Industries is a computer-controlled composite manufacturing process) (disclosed by the entire video). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. a) Ho Yew Chi et al. (10,189,214) discloses freespace composite manufacturing process and device. b) Rotter et al. (10,052,827) discloses method for forming an applying composite layup having complex geometries. c) Peeler et al. (2012/0009407) discloses rigid polyurethane foam. d) Boyd et al. (2010/0098927) discloses processing of polymer matrix composites. e) Schmeal et al. (4,679,291) discloses robotic stapling system for fiber placement for composite parts. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STELLA KIM YI whose telephone number is (571)270-5123. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00 EST. 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, Christina Johnson can be reached at 571-272-1176. 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. STELLA YI Examiner Art Unit 1742 /STELLA K YI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1742
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 14, 2025
Application Filed
Aug 25, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Oct 21, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Oct 21, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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Patent 12733637
INSTRINSICALLY ANTIMICROBIAL POROSIC MATRIX COMPOSITES AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF
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Patent 12734728
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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
71%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+28.4%)
3y 2m (~1y 11m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 981 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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