USPTO Examiner PULLEN NIKOLAS TAKUYA - Art Unit 1733

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
17136701SELECTIVE EXTRACTION OF LITHIUM FROM CLAY MINERALSDecember 2020May 2025Allow5241NoNo
17118386PROCESSES FOR THE SEPARATION OF RARE EARTH ELEMENTS AND NON-RARE EARTH ELEMENTS INTO INDIVIDUAL HIGH PURITY ELEMENTSDecember 2020December 2024Allow4840YesNo
17108129Process for Gold and/or Platinum Group Metals Heap Leaching with LimeDecember 2020July 2024Abandon4330NoNo
17065487METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR EXTRACTION OF RARE EARTH ELEMENTS FROM COAL ASHOctober 2020April 2024Allow4220NoNo
17063986Oxygen Injection For Reformer Feed Gas For Direct Reduction ProcessOctober 2020November 2023Allow3720NoNo
16976774METHOD AND EQUIPMENT FOR RECYCLING USED CELLS AND RECHARGEABLE BATTERIESAugust 2020November 2024Abandon5011NoNo
16975705METHOD FOR CLEAN METALLURGY OF MOLYBDENUMAugust 2020January 2024Allow4010NoNo
16947567METHOD FOR REFINING METAL MELTS OR SLAGSAugust 2020November 2024Abandon5120NoNo
16966114METHOD FOR RECYCLING LITHIUM BATTERIESJuly 2020January 2024Allow4220NoNo
16925752MOLTEN MANGANESE-CONTAINING STEEL PRODUCTION METHOD, HOLDING FURNACE, AND MOLTEN MANGANESE-CONTAINING STEEL PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT USING HOLDING FURNACEJuly 2020May 2024Abandon4620NoNo
16876406Mineralizer Composition and Pidgeon Silicothermic Process for Smelting MagnesiumMay 2020January 2023Abandon3201NoNo
16858916IRONMAKING FEEDSTOCKApril 2020January 2023Abandon3310NoNo
16755358METHOD FOR PURIFYING TITANIUM MATERIALApril 2020March 2023Abandon3620YesNo
16651106PROCESS FOR ACIDIC LEACHING OF PRECIOUS AND CHALCOPHILE METALSMarch 2020October 2024Allow5530YesNo
16644759MOLTEN SALT COMPOSITION FOR SMELTING MAGNESIUM USING SOLID OXIDE MEMBRANE (SOM) PROCESSMarch 2020August 2023Abandon4220NoNo
16640814METHOD FOR RECOVERING Cu AND METHOD OF PREPARING ELECTROLYTIC COPPERFebruary 2020November 2023Allow4540YesNo
16640649PROCESSING METHODFebruary 2020August 2024Allow5440NoNo
16638530METHOD FOR OPERATING MELTING/REFINING FURNACE AND MELTING-REFINING FURNACEFebruary 2020April 2023Abandon3921NoNo
16635932SODIUM REMOVAL METHOD, METAL CONCENTRATING METHOD, AND METAL RECOVERY METHODJanuary 2020November 2024Abandon5820NoNo
16773081APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR POWER GENERATION AND VALUABLE ELEMENT RECOVERY FROM COMBUSTION BY-PRODUCTSJanuary 2020August 2023Abandon4221NoNo
16773625ION EXCHANGE SYSTEM FOR LITHIUM EXTRACTIONJanuary 2020February 2025Allow6030NoNo
16751889PROCESSING METHODS AND PROCESSING APPARATUSJanuary 2020April 2025Allow6061YesNo
16743577High Entropy Alloy Having Composite Microstructure and Method of Manufacturing the SameJanuary 2020May 2023Abandon4020NoNo
16620184METHOD FOR THE RECOVERY OF LITHIUMDecember 2019October 2022Abandon3410NoNo
16675001SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECOVERING SCRAP SILVERNovember 2019February 2025Abandon6030NoYes
16665486FOAMY SLAG CONDITIONER COMPOUNDOctober 2019March 2024Abandon5350YesNo
16664145DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUSLY DECOMPOSING RARE EARTH CONCENTRATE OREOctober 2019November 2022Allow3720NoNo
16656089Microwave Gun and Arc Plasma Torch FurnaceOctober 2019March 2023Abandon4110NoNo
16591644AN APPARATUS FOR PLATINUM GROUP METALS RECOVERY FROM SPENT CATALYSTSOctober 2019September 2023Allow4840NoNo
16499374HYDROMETALLURGICAL METHOD FOR RECYCLING LEAD FROM SPENT LEAD-ACID BATTERY PASTESeptember 2019August 2022Allow3410YesNo
16576765METHOD FOR PREPARING LEAD DIRECTLY FROM LEAD-CONTAINING MATERIAL BY SOLID PHASE REACTIONSeptember 2019September 2022Allow3610YesNo
16488925METAL RECOVERY AGENT, METAL COMPOUND RECOVERY AGENT, AND METHOD FOR RECOVERING METAL OR METAL COMPOUNDAugust 2019May 2024Abandon5631YesNo
16488240Control System and Method for Dry Centrifugal Granulation of Liquid SlagAugust 2019June 2022Allow3300NoNo
16537753METHOD OF SEPARATING METAL FROM METALLIC STARTING MATERIALS USING A HYDROTHERMAL REACTOR SYSTEMAugust 2019October 2024Abandon6040NoNo
16533455METHOD FOR THE DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN MARINE AND TERRESTRIAL SEDIMENTARY ENVIRONMENTS BY SELECTIVELY EXTRACTED EXCHANGEABLE STRONTIUM TO BARIUM RATIO FROM TERRIGENOUS CLASTIC SEDIMENTSAugust 2019July 2023Abandon4820NoNo
16476092METHOD OF DETECTION AND EXTRACTING METALS FROM ORE-BEARING SLURRYJuly 2019August 2022Abandon3810NoNo
16458905HYDROMETALLURGICAL SOLVENT EXTRACTION METHODSJuly 2019April 2025Allow6040YesNo
16472479METHOD FOR RECOVERING NICKEL AND COBALT FROM NICKEL, IRON, AND COBALT-CONTAINING RAW MATERIALJune 2019December 2022Abandon4220NoNo
16470878RECYCLING METAL-RICH FINES AND POWDER COATING WASTE MATERIAL IN COMPOSITE BRIQUETTESJune 2019July 2022Abandon3701NoNo
16470228MINERAL PROCESSING METHODJune 2019February 2023Allow4430YesNo
16462895LOW TEMPERATURE DIRECT REDUCTION OF METAL OXIDES VIA THE IN SITU PRODUCTION OF REDUCING GASMay 2019August 2023Abandon5030YesNo
16344532PROCESS FOR RECOVERING METALApril 2019December 2022Allow4320NoNo
16342531A Method for Enriching Precious Metals from Printed Circuit Board Incineration Ash from Molten Pool by Circulating ChlorinationApril 2019May 2022Allow3710NoNo
16384015FLASH IRONMAKING DROP TUBE FURNACE SYSTEMApril 2019May 2022Allow3721NoNo
16341512PROCESS FOR RECYCLING COBALT-BEARING MATERIALSApril 2019July 2024Allow6070YesNo
16308279Process And System For Plasma-Induced Selective Extraction And Recovery Of Species From A MatrixDecember 2018February 2023Allow5021YesNo
16209657ELECTRODES FOR MAKING NANOCARBON-INFUSED METALS AND ALLOYSDecember 2018July 2024Allow6061NoNo
16306326METHOD OF RECOVERY OF NICKEL AND COBALTNovember 2018January 2025Abandon6060NoNo
16097075METHOD FOR PROCESSING STEELMAKING DUST, METHOD FOR PRODUCING ZINC, METHOD FOR PRODUCING IRON- AND STEELMAKING RAW MATERIAL, AND RAW MATERIAL OF IRON AND STEELOctober 2018April 2024Abandon6041NoNo
16133057PROCESS AND FACILITY FOR THERMAL TREATMENT OF A SULFUR-CONTAINING ORESeptember 2018May 2023Abandon5630YesNo
16076289A METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING A COMPOSITE WASTE SOURCEAugust 2018September 2023Allow6040YesNo
16069722INTEGRATED ELECTRONIC WASTE RECYCLING AND RECOVERY SYSTEM AND PROCESS OF USING SAMEJuly 2018April 2022Abandon4510NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner PULLEN, NIKOLAS TAKUYA.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
2
Allowed After Appeal Filing
0
(0.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
2
(100.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
1.4%
Lower than average

Understanding Appeal Filing Strategy

Filing a Notice of Appeal can sometimes lead to allowance even before the appeal is fully briefed or decided by the PTAB. This occurs when the examiner or their supervisor reconsiders the rejection during the mandatory appeal conference (MPEP § 1207.01) after the appeal is filed.

In this dataset, 0.0% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is in the bottom 25% across the USPTO, indicating that filing appeals is less effective here than in most other areas.

Strategic Recommendations

Filing a Notice of Appeal shows limited benefit. Consider other strategies like interviews or amendments before appealing.

Examiner PULLEN, NIKOLAS TAKUYA - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner PULLEN, NIKOLAS TAKUYA works in Art Unit 1733 and has examined 52 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 48.1%, this examiner allows applications at a lower rate than most examiners at the USPTO. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 45 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner PULLEN, NIKOLAS TAKUYA's allowance rate of 48.1% places them in the 12% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner is less likely to allow applications than most examiners at the USPTO.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by PULLEN, NIKOLAS TAKUYA receive 2.58 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 72% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues a slightly above-average number of office actions.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by PULLEN, NIKOLAS TAKUYA is 45 months. This places the examiner in the 13% percentile for prosecution speed. Applications take longer to reach final disposition with this examiner compared to most others.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +29.9% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by PULLEN, NIKOLAS TAKUYA. This interview benefit is in the 76% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews are highly effective with this examiner and should be strongly considered as a prosecution strategy. Per MPEP § 713.10, interviews are available at any time before the Notice of Allowance is mailed or jurisdiction transfers to the PTAB.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 17.9% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 19% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show lower effectiveness with this examiner compared to others. Consider whether a continuation application might be more strategic, especially if you need to add new matter or significantly broaden claims.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 29.6% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 44% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner shows below-average receptiveness to after-final amendments. You may need to file an RCE or appeal rather than relying on after-final amendment entry.

Petition Practice

When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 150.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 97% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions are frequently granted regarding this examiner's actions compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 1002.02(c), various examiner actions are petitionable to the Technology Center Director, including prematureness of final rejection, refusal to enter amendments, and requirement for information. If you believe an examiner action is improper, consider filing a petition.

Examiner Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 5% percentile). This examiner rarely makes examiner's amendments compared to other examiners. You should expect to make all necessary claim amendments yourself through formal amendment practice.

Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 5% percentile). This examiner rarely issues Quayle actions compared to other examiners. Allowances typically come directly without a separate action for formal matters.

Prosecution Strategy Recommendations

Based on the statistical analysis of this examiner's prosecution patterns, here are tailored strategic recommendations:

  • Prepare for rigorous examination: With a below-average allowance rate, ensure your application has strong written description and enablement support. Consider filing a continuation if you need to add new matter.
  • Prioritize examiner interviews: Interviews are highly effective with this examiner. Request an interview after the first office action to clarify issues and potentially expedite allowance.
  • Plan for extended prosecution: Applications take longer than average with this examiner. Factor this into your continuation strategy and client communications.

Relevant MPEP Sections for Prosecution Strategy

  • MPEP § 713.10: Examiner interviews - available before Notice of Allowance or transfer to PTAB
  • MPEP § 714.12: After-final amendments - may be entered "under justifiable circumstances"
  • MPEP § 1002.02(c): Petitionable matters to Technology Center Director
  • MPEP § 1004: Actions requiring primary examiner signature (allowances, final rejections, examiner's answers)
  • MPEP § 1207.01: Appeal conferences - mandatory for all appeals
  • MPEP § 1214.07: Reopening prosecution after appeal

Important Disclaimer

Not Legal Advice: The information provided in this report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should consult with a qualified patent attorney or agent for advice specific to your situation.

No Guarantees: We do not provide any guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the statistics presented above. Patent prosecution statistics are derived from publicly available USPTO data and are subject to data quality limitations, processing errors, and changes in USPTO practices over time.

Limitation of Liability: Under no circumstances will IronCrow AI be liable for any outcome, decision, or action resulting from your reliance on the statistics, analysis, or recommendations presented in this report. Past prosecution patterns do not guarantee future results.

Use at Your Own Risk: While we strive to provide accurate and useful prosecution statistics, you should independently verify any information that is material to your prosecution strategy and use your professional judgment in all patent prosecution matters.