Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 04, 2026
Application No. 19/387,329

TUBE CONNECTOR AND TUBE WITH CONNECTOR

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Nov 12, 2025
Priority
Nov 19, 2024 — JP 2024-201799
Examiner
DUNWOODY, AARON M
Art Unit
3679
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Hirakawa Hewtech Corporation
OA Round
2 (Final)
75%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
1y 10m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 75% — above average
75%
Career Allowance Rate
1236 granted / 1644 resolved
+23.2% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+11.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
39 currently pending
Career history
1685
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.1%
-38.9% vs TC avg
§103
14.5%
-25.5% vs TC avg
§102
49.5%
+9.5% vs TC avg
§112
31.3%
-8.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1644 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 4553587, Traylor. In regards to claim 1, in Figures 1-6 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Traylor discloses a tube connector to connect a medical tube (50) to a medical device (such as an ambulance), the tube connector comprising: a first member (72) into which the medical tube is inserted; a second member (36, 80) that is screwed into the first member; and a seal ring (78) that is housed in the first member, deforms with screwing of the second member into the first member, and fixes the medical tube by deformation, wherein, of the first member and the second member, at least the second member has light-transmission properties (col. 7, lines 1-10). In regards to claim 2, in Figures 1-6 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Traylor discloses the second member comprises a tube restriction portion (80) against which a tip of the medical tube inserted into the first member butts. In regards to claim 3, in Figures 1-6 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Traylor discloses the first member and the second member have light-transmission properties. In regards to claim 4, in Figures 1-6 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Traylor discloses the first member and the second member have light-transmission properties. In regards to claim 5, in Figures 1-6 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Traylor discloses a tube connector to connect a medical tube to a medical device, the tube connector comprising: a first member into which the medical tube is inserted; a second member that is screwed into the first member; and a seal ring that is housed in the first member, deforms with screwing of the second member into the first member, and fixes the medical tube by deformation, wherein the second member comprises a light-transmissive portion through which a position of a tip of the medical tube thereinside is visible. In regards to claim 6, in Figures 1-6 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Traylor discloses a tube with connector, comprising: a medical tube; and a tube connector to connect the medical tube to a medical device, wherein the tube connector comprises a first member into which the medical tube is inserted, a second member that is screwed into the first member, and a seal ring that is housed in the first member, deforms with screwing of the second member into the first member, and fixes the medical tube by deformation, and wherein, of the first member and the second member, at least the second member has light-transmission properties. In regards to claim 7, in Figures 1-6 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Traylor discloses a tube with connector, comprising: a medical tube; and a tube connector to connect the medical tube to a medical device, wherein the tube connector comprises a first member into which the medical tube is inserted, a second member that is screwed into the first member, and a seal ring that is housed in the first member, deforms with screwing of the second member into the first member, and fixes the medical tube by deformation, and wherein the second member comprises a light-transmissive portion through which a position of a tip (58) of the medical tube thereinside is visible. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AARON M DUNWOODY whose telephone number is (571)272-7080. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm. 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, Matthew Troutman can be reached at 571-270-3654. 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. /AARON M DUNWOODY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 12, 2025
Application Filed
Jun 05, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Aug 31, 2026
Response Filed
Sep 29, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12747812
ANNULUS CONNECTION
4y 6m to grant Granted Sep 29, 2026
Patent 12742512
CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY
1y 6m to grant Granted Sep 22, 2026
Patent 12738724
PIPELINE STRUCTURE WITH CABLE FIXING FUNCTION
2y 6m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12736163
GARDEN HOSE CONNECTORS
2y 2m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12729014
AIR HOSE
3y 0m to grant Granted Sep 08, 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
75%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (+11.4%)
2y 9m (~1y 10m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1644 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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