USPTO Examiner KERNS KEVIN P - Art Unit 1735

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18959750CASTING PROCESS FOR MAKING AN EROSION AND WEAR RESISTANT SHOT CHAMBER FOR DIE CASTING APPLICATIONSNovember 2024November 2025Allow1210NoNo
18909598Battery Module, and Battery Pack and Vehicle Including Battery ModuleOctober 2024April 2025Allow610YesNo
18828538Method For Manufacturing Graphene Aluminum CastingSeptember 2024May 2025Allow810NoNo
18771594SOW CASTING AUTOMATED GUIDED VEHICLEJuly 2024February 2025Allow710YesNo
18733668HIGH PRESSURE DIE CASTING SYSTEM AND METHODJune 2024April 2025Allow1011YesNo
18731158METHOD FOR IMPROVING SMOOTH RUNNING OF CASTING OF RARE EARTH STAINLESS STEEL USING PULSE CURRENTMay 2024August 2024Allow310NoNo
18666462METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SHAPE OF AN INGOT HEADMay 2024October 2025Abandon1720YesNo
18662526Method of Manufacturing Golf Club Head Having Stress-Reducing FeaturesMay 2024May 2025Allow1210NoNo
186611173-D PRINTABLE EXPENDABLE LOST FOAM PATTERNMay 2024October 2025Allow1841YesNo
18649097BATTERY ELECTRODE CONTINUOUS CASTING DRUM, SHOE, MACHINE AND METHODApril 2024July 2025Allow1510NoNo
18704155MANUFACTURE OF HOLLOW CORE HIGH PRESSURE VACUUM DIE CAST COMPONENTSApril 2024August 2025Allow1621YesNo
18644815BATTERY ELECTRODE CONTINUOUS CASTING SHOE, MACHINE AND METHODApril 2024July 2025Allow1510NoNo
18621486DEPOSITION OF REACTIVE METALS WITH PROTECTION LAYER FOR HIGH VOLUME MANUFACTURINGMarch 2024January 2026Abandon2111NoNo
18610325FOUNDRY SAND RESERVING METHOD AND FOUNDRY SAND RESERVING SYSTEMMarch 2024October 2025Allow1911YesNo
18609113CASTING-ROLLING SIDE SEALING DEVICE WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC STIRRING FUNCTIONMarch 2024January 2025Allow1010YesNo
18610230CASTING FURNACE FOR SOLIDIFICATION RESTRUCTURING (FSR)March 2024April 2025Allow1320NoNo
18443635METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF GRAPHENE COMPOSITE COMPONENTS HAVING ENHANCED THERMAL CONDUCTIVITYFebruary 2024March 2025Allow1300YesNo
18681660MOULD FOR CASTING MOLTEN METAL COMPRISING A COUPLING MECHANISM FOR A SHROUD, CASTING INSTALLATION FOR CASTING A MOLTEN METAL AND METHOD FOR CASTING A MOLTEN METALFebruary 2024September 2025Allow2031YesNo
18402278METAL-BASED COMPOSITES AND METHODS THEREFORJanuary 2024October 2024Abandon1021YesNo
18575945METHOD FOR THE LAYERED CONSTRUCTION OF MOLDS AND CORES WITH A BINDER CONTAINING WATER GLASSJanuary 2024August 2025Abandon2001NoNo
18570689Method for Casting CastingsDecember 2023March 2025Allow1510YesNo
18530671DYNAMIC MOLD SHAPE CONTROL FOR DIRECT CHILL CASTINGDecember 2023July 2025Allow1931NoNo
18562539PRODUCTION METHOD FOR ALUMINUM-DIAMOND COMPOSITENovember 2023February 2025Allow1520YesNo
18511956CASTING PRODUCTS FOR COOLING HEATING ELEMENTS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAMENovember 2023September 2024Allow1011NoNo
18561188LOW-PRESSURE ALUMINUM CASTING MOLD AND LOW-PRESSURE ALUMINUM CASTING PROCESS FOR MOTOR ROTORNovember 2023January 2025Allow1410NoNo
18290502CASTING MOLD SHAPING DEVICE AND CASTING MOLD SHAPING METHODNovember 2023March 2025Allow1600YesNo
18387607Method of Manufacturing Golf Club Head Having Stress-Reducing FeaturesNovember 2023May 2024Allow600YesNo
18557983METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING METAL MATRIX COMPOSITE MATERIALOctober 2023February 2025Allow1520YesNo
18554495SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FORMING SINGLE CRYSTAL COMPONENTS USING ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TOOLINGOctober 2023July 2025Allow2131YesNo
18468065ONLINE COOPERATIVE CONTROL METHOD FOR SOFT REDUCTION AND HEAVY REDUCTION IN BLOOM CONTINUOUS CASTINGSeptember 2023June 2024Allow910NoNo
18468148METHOD FOR INTEGRATED FIXTURING OF DIRECT PRINT MOLDS FOR CAST COMPONENTSSeptember 2023March 2025Allow1830YesYes
18550524DIE CASTING MACHINESeptember 2023May 2024Allow800NoNo
18466327HEAT EXTRACTION OR RETENTION DURING DIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION OF A CASTING COMPONENTSeptember 2023April 2024Allow710YesNo
18549092METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A DIE-CASTING MACHINE AND DIE-CASTING MACHINESeptember 2023August 2025Allow2331YesNo
18277800UNIDIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION DEVICE, UNIDIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION METHOD, UNIDIRECTIONALLY SOLIDIFIED CASTING, AND UNIDIRECTIONALLY SOLIDIFIED INGOTAugust 2023February 2025Allow1821YesNo
18264882GAS PRESSURE CONTROL APPARATUSAugust 2023July 2025Abandon2320YesNo
18264381METAL MATERIAL CONTAINMENT SYSTEM IN METAL PRODUCT CASTINGAugust 2023August 2024Allow1210NoNo
18363342MOLD COOLING DEVICE, CAST MANUFACTURING SYSTEM, AND CAST MANUFACTURING METHODAugust 2023June 2025Allow2310NoNo
18363308CASTING SYSTEMAugust 2023October 2025Allow2720YesNo
18228711SAND CORE STRUCTURE FOR DIE-CASTINGAugust 2023November 2023Allow310NoNo
18361930DATA MINING-BASED METHOD FOR REAL-TIME PRODUCTION QUALITY PREDICTION OF ALUMINUM ALLOY CASTING, ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUMJuly 2023May 2025Allow2210NoNo
18357102Method and strand guide device for operating a cooling chamberJuly 2023July 2024Allow1210YesNo
18344140Release Agent-Free Aluminium Strip CastingJune 2023February 2025Allow2040NoNo
18269057CONTINUOUS CASTING METHOD OF STEELJune 2023January 2025Allow1930YesNo
18258362MEASURING SENSOR, SYSTEM AND METHOD AND CASTING MACHINEJune 2023January 2025Allow1911NoNo
18266522Die-Casting Machine Having a Shut-off Valve in the Melt Inlet Channel and Operating MethodJune 2023July 2024Allow1311YesNo
18205705POURING FACILITYJune 2023September 2024Allow1610NoNo
18328175CASTING EQUIPMENT AND CASTING METHODJune 2023August 2024Allow1510NoNo
18196221SUPPORT UNIT AND CONTINUOUS CASTING GUIDE ROLL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING SAMEMay 2023February 2024Allow910NoNo
18313325METHOD FOR PREPARING ALUMINUM CARBON COMPOSITE BY USING FOAM ALUMINUMMay 2023October 2023Allow610NoNo
18250592SAND USED IN INDUSTRYApril 2023July 2025Allow2721YesNo
18301080TRAINING-FREE DATA-DRIVEN METHOD FOR INPUT-OUTPUT MODELING OF COMPLEX PROCESSApril 2023July 2024Allow1510YesNo
18028979Three-Plate Pressure Die Casting Mold Having Improved Sprue Separation, and Method for Pressure Die CastingMarch 2023February 2024Allow1110YesNo
18028990Three-Plate Pressure Die Casting Mold Having Improved Sprue Separation, and Method for Pressure Die Casting (II)March 2023January 2024Allow1010NoNo
18125892Method of Manufacturing Golf Club Head Having Stress-Reducing FeaturesMarch 2023April 2024Allow1210NoNo
18028015NEGATIVE ELECTRODE FOR SECONDARY BATTERY, AND SECONDARY BATTERYMarch 2023November 2025Allow3100NoNo
18124100GUIDE ROLLER WITH INTEGRATED OPTICAL SENSORS AND CONTINUOUS CASTING MACHINEMarch 2023February 2024Allow1110YesNo
18182708HYBRID CASTING PROCESS FOR STRUCTURAL CASTINGSMarch 2023January 2025Abandon2220YesNo
18118223APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A STRIP USING A RAPID SOLIDIFICATION TECHNOLOGY, AND A METALLIC STRIPMarch 2023July 2024Allow1610NoNo
18043851DIRECT CHILL CAST ALUMINUM INGOT WITH COMPOSITION GRADIENT FOR REDUCED CRACKINGMarch 2023December 2025Abandon3340NoNo
18114373GROUND FAULT DETERMINATION SYSTEM AND GROUND FAULT DETERMINATION METHODFebruary 2023September 2025Allow3100NoNo
18171755DIE CASTING MACHINE AND AIRTIGHT INSPECTION METHODFebruary 2023May 2024Abandon1520YesNo
18166104ATMOSPHERE AND PART FORMATION IN A LIQUID METAL DROP-ON-DEMAND PRINTERFebruary 2023March 2024Allow1420YesNo
18158725SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MAKING A CAST REVERSE TILT-POURED FUEL CELL CRADLEJanuary 2023September 2024Allow2011NoNo
18005411METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN ARTICLE FOR USE IN THE FOUNDRY INDUSTRY, CORRESPONDING MOLD, CORE, FEED ELEMENT, OR MOLDING MATERIAL MIXTURE, AND DEVICES AND USESJanuary 2023February 2025Allow2511YesNo
18154139Busbar assemblyJanuary 2023December 2025Allow3510YesNo
18094469SHRINK-FITTING PROCESS FOR MAKING AN EROSION AND WEAR RESISTANT SHOT CHAMBER FOR DIE CASTING APPLICATIONSJanuary 2023September 2024Allow2020YesNo
18151005SECONDARY BATTERY AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAMEJanuary 2023December 2025Allow3510YesNo
18149904METHOD FOR MAKING A CARBON MATERIAL FOR ANODE AND LITHIUM-ION RECHARGEABLE BATTERYJanuary 2023November 2025Allow3410NoNo
18148054BATTERY CELL CONNECTION STRUCTUREDecember 2022March 2026Allow3820YesNo
18003278THIN STRIP PRODUCTION PROCESS EMPLOYING CONTINUOUS CASTING AND ROLLINGDecember 2022November 2024Allow2310YesNo
18087033ELECTROCHEMICAL APPARATUS AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS INCLUDING SAMEDecember 2022March 2026Allow3920YesNo
18003136SINGLE CELL AND FUEL CELL STACK WITH ELASTIC STRUCTURES FOR EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF OPERATING MEDIADecember 2022September 2025Allow3310YesNo
18060741SMART INSERT PIN AND METHOD OF USING SAME FOR DIE CASTING OF ULTRA-LARGE CASTINGS FOR A VEHICLEDecember 2022March 2025Abandon2721YesNo
17990663REAL-TIME MONITORING METHOD AND STABILITY ANALYSIS METHOD FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING PROCESSNovember 2022March 2026Abandon3941NoNo
17984276COMPOSITE POSITIVE ELECTRODE CURRENT COLLECTOR, ELECTRODE PLATE AND SECONDARY BATTERYNovember 2022December 2025Allow3720YesNo
17924239SECONDARY COOLING APPARATUS IN A MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING OF METAL PRODUCTSNovember 2022February 2024Allow1510NoNo
17924265METHOD TO CONTROL A SECONDARY COOLING APPARATUS IN A MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING OF METAL PRODUCTS AND SECONDARY COOLING APPARATUS FOR A CONTINUOUS CASTING MACHINENovember 2022February 2024Allow1510NoNo
17923739CELL STACK, METHOD OF PRODUCING A CELL STACK AND FUEL CELL OR ELECTROLYSIS CELL INCLUDING A CELL STACKNovember 2022March 2026Allow4010YesNo
17923642SMART TRIM DIE ASSEMBLYNovember 2022May 2024Allow1910NoNo
18052272COMPOSITE BATTERY PACK WALL WITH MICA INNER LAYERNovember 2022October 2025Allow3620YesNo
18051601METHOD FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF THERMAL RUNAWAY IN AN ELECTRIC BATTERYNovember 2022August 2025Allow3410NoNo
18048443BATTERY PACK COOLING STRUCTURE THROUGH APPLYING VARIABLE THICKNESS OF GAP FILLEROctober 2022September 2025Allow3510NoNo
17996645SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING CONVEYORS DURING CASTINGOctober 2022September 2024Allow2320NoNo
18047274METHOD, CASTING MOLD, AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A VEHICLE WHEELOctober 2022July 2024Allow2121NoNo
17966436BATTERYOctober 2022October 2025Allow3610NoNo
18046505POSITIVE ELECTRODE MATERIAL AND BATTERYOctober 2022October 2025Allow3610NoNo
17918856BUTTON SECONDARY BATTERY AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAMEOctober 2022November 2025Allow3811NoNo
18045947SYSTEM OF HIGH-PRESSURE DIE CASTING OF ULTRA-LARGE ALUMINUM CASTINGSOctober 2022October 2024Allow2411YesNo
17917041PLANT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METAL PRODUCTS AND METHOD OF MANAGEMENT OF SAID PLANTOctober 2022February 2025Allow2811YesNo
17960141COLD FLAKE SUPPRESSION METHODOctober 2022January 2024Allow1510YesNo
17957169METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AN ELECTRODE COMPRISING A DRY ELECTRODE FILM AND AN ELECTRODE FOR AN ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICE THEREFROMSeptember 2022March 2026Allow4230YesNo
17915897BATTERY PACK INCLUDING MEMBER CAPABLE OF PREVENTING POOR CONTACT WITH DEVICESeptember 2022January 2026Allow4020YesNo
17935769SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MAKING A TILT-POURED CRADLE FOR A FUEL CELLSeptember 2022September 2024Allow2311YesNo
17952590SOLID-STATE BATTERYSeptember 2022September 2025Allow3610YesNo
17914273Three-Plate Die Casting Mold Having a Sprue System and Improved Sprue Separation, and Die Casting MethodSeptember 2022June 2024Allow2120NoNo
17907161METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SHAPE OF AN INGOT HEADSeptember 2022March 2024Allow1730YesNo
17934078PREPARATION METHOD OF CESIUM DIFLUOROPHOSPHATE FOR AQUEOUS NEGATIVE ELECTRODE SLURRY, NEGATIVE ELECTRODE SLURRY, NEGATIVE ELECTRODE PLATE, AND SECONDARY BATTERYSeptember 2022January 2026Allow4001NoNo
17950055BATTERY PACK WITH ELECTRONICS COMPARTMENTSeptember 2022February 2026Abandon4001NoNo
17910974NONAQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE SECONDARY BATTERYSeptember 2022April 2025Allow3100NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner KERNS, KEVIN P.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
30
Examiner Affirmed
20
(66.7%)
Examiner Reversed
10
(33.3%)
Reversal Percentile
49.8%
Lower than average

What This Means

With a 33.3% reversal rate, the PTAB reverses the examiner's rejections in a meaningful percentage of cases. This reversal rate is below the USPTO average, indicating that appeals face more challenges here than typical.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
100
Allowed After Appeal Filing
37
(37.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
63
(63.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
60.8%
Higher 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, 37.0% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is above the USPTO average, suggesting that filing an appeal can be an effective strategy for prompting reconsideration.

Strategic Recommendations

Appeals to PTAB face challenges. Ensure your case has strong merit before committing to full Board review.

Filing a Notice of Appeal is strategically valuable. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.

Examiner KERNS, KEVIN P - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner KERNS, KEVIN P works in Art Unit 1735 and has examined 1,191 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 79.3%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 27 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner KERNS, KEVIN P's allowance rate of 79.3% places them in the 48% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by KERNS, KEVIN P receive 1.90 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 46% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues fewer office actions than average, which may indicate efficient prosecution or a more lenient examination style.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by KERNS, KEVIN P is 27 months. This places the examiner in the 71% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +24.4% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by KERNS, KEVIN P. This interview benefit is in the 71% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide an above-average benefit with this examiner and are worth considering.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 28.5% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 52% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show above-average effectiveness with this examiner. Consider whether your amendments or new arguments are strong enough to warrant an RCE versus filing a continuation.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 35.2% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 53% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner shows above-average receptiveness to after-final amendments. If your amendments clearly overcome the rejections and do not raise new issues, consider filing after-final amendments before resorting to an RCE.

Pre-Appeal Conference Effectiveness

When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 125.9% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 84% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: Pre-appeal conferences are highly effective with this examiner compared to others. Before filing a full appeal brief, strongly consider requesting a PAC. The PAC provides an opportunity for the examiner and supervisory personnel to reconsider the rejection before the case proceeds to the PTAB.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 67.0% of appeals filed. This is in the 53% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 37.7% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). Strategic Insight: This examiner shows above-average willingness to reconsider rejections during appeals. The mandatory appeal conference (MPEP § 1207.01) provides an opportunity for reconsideration.

Petition Practice

When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 47.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 42% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions show below-average success regarding this examiner's actions. Ensure you have a strong procedural basis before filing.

Examiner Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 3.1% of allowed cases (in the 80% percentile). Per MPEP § 1302.04, examiner's amendments are used to place applications in condition for allowance when only minor changes are needed. This examiner frequently uses this tool compared to other examiners, indicating a cooperative approach to getting applications allowed. Strategic Insight: If you are close to allowance but minor claim amendments are needed, this examiner may be willing to make an examiner's amendment rather than requiring another round of prosecution.

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:

  • Request pre-appeal conferences: PACs are highly effective with this examiner. Before filing a full appeal brief, request a PAC to potentially resolve issues without full PTAB review.
  • Examiner cooperation: This examiner frequently makes examiner's amendments to place applications in condition for allowance. If you are close to allowance, the examiner may help finalize the claims.

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.