Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 26, 2026
Application No. 19/181,587

ROLL FORMED BEAM ASSEMBLY FOR LIGHTWEIGHT FIELD IRRIGATION APPARATUS

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Apr 17, 2025
Priority
Sep 01, 2022 — provisional 63/403,012 +2 more
Examiner
DANDRIDGE, CHRISTOPHER R.
Art Unit
3752
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Valmont Industries Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
66%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 7m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 66% — above average
66%
Career Allowance Rate
410 granted / 623 resolved
-4.2% vs TC avg
Strong +36% interview lift
Without
With
+35.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 2m
Avg Prosecution
48 currently pending
Career history
683
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.0%
-39.0% vs TC avg
§103
52.2%
+12.2% vs TC avg
§102
21.0%
-19.0% vs TC avg
§112
21.9%
-18.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 623 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 1-21 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 [. . . .] span cable" in line 18. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. The remaining claims are rejected due to dependency from claim 1. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-21 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 limitations “wherein the plurality of hose segments comprise: a first hose segment and a second hose segment; a plurality of nozzle connectors; wherein the plurality of nozzle connectors comprise: a first nozzle connector and a second nozzle connector; wherein the first and second nozzle connector each comprise: a front connection insert; a rear connection insert; a central connector body; and a central sprinkler outlet; wherein the central sprinkler outlet extends from the central connector body; wherein the first hose segment is connected at a first end to the first nozzle connector; wherein the first hose segment is connected at a second end to the second nozzle connector [. . . .] wherein the roll form beam assembly comprises: a right outside truss diagonal, a right inside truss diagonal, a left inside truss diagonal, and a left outside truss diagonal; wherein the right inside truss diagonal and the left inside truss diagonal are linked to form a central V-shaped channel which supports the central hose and span cable [. . . .] wherein the first angle is within the range of 75°-100 [. . . .] wherein the second angle is within the range of 75°-100” are not anticipated or made obvious by the prior art. ‘835 discloses a device that includes nozzle connectors, but fails to disclose the roll-form beam assembly. ‘528 discloses a device that includes a roll form beam assembly, but fails to disclose the combination of the connector element with the roll form beam assembly. Examiner finds no teaching, suggestion, or motivation to modify the prior art to arrive at the claimed device. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER R. DANDRIDGE whose telephone number is (571)270-1505. The examiner can normally be reached M-T 9am-7pm. 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, Arthur O. Hall can be reached at (571)270-1814. 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. CHRISTOPHER R. DANDRIDGE Primary Examiner Art Unit 3752 /CHRISTOPHER R DANDRIDGE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3752
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 17, 2025
Application Filed
Sep 02, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (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
66%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+35.6%)
3y 2m (~1y 7m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 623 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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