Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 19/230,193

STEERING COLUMN FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE AND ASSEMBLY METHOD

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Jun 06, 2025
Priority
Jun 07, 2024 — DE 10 2024 205 259.0
Examiner
FRISBY, KEITH J
Art Unit
3614
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
ZF Friedrichshafen AG
OA Round
2 (Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
11m
Est. Remaining
79%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allowance Rate
790 granted / 1018 resolved
+25.6% vs TC avg
Minimal +2% lift
Without
With
+1.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
27 currently pending
Career history
1038
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.4%
-39.6% vs TC avg
§103
63.9%
+23.9% vs TC avg
§102
14.8%
-25.2% vs TC avg
§112
18.9%
-21.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1018 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION 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. Claim 14 is 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 14 recites the limitation "the roller rails" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-7, 9-13 and 15-17 are allowed. Claim 14 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KEITH J FRISBY whose telephone number is (571)270-7802. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00AM - 5:00PM. 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, Jason Shanske can be reached at (571)270-5985. 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. /KEITH J FRISBY/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3614
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 06, 2025
Application Filed
Nov 30, 2025
Non-Final Rejection (signed) — §112
Jan 07, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Apr 01, 2026
Response Filed
Apr 22, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12673634
AIRBAG FOR A DRIVER'S SEAT OF A VEHICLE AND AIRBAG MODULE, VEHICLE OCCUPANT SAFETY SYSTEM AND VEHICLE HAVING SUCH AN AIRBAG
1y 10m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12673631
AIRBAG DEVICE PROVIDED TO STEERING WHEEL
1y 6m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12662208
PINLESS TILT DECK TRAILER LOCKING MECHANISM
1y 5m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Patent 12661945
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY ON AN ELECTRIFIED VEHICLE
1y 1m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Patent 12654803
FOLDING E-TRIKE
1y 0m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
78%
Grant Probability
79%
With Interview (+1.5%)
2y 1m (~11m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1018 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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