USPTO Examiner WILL KATHERINE A - Art Unit 1747

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19030656VAPING SYSTEMJanuary 2025December 2025Allow1120NoNo
19030705VAPING SYSTEMJanuary 2025March 2026Allow1420NoNo
19023933VAPORIZER PODSJanuary 2025March 2025Allow200NoNo
18899887VAPING SYSTEMSeptember 2024January 2025Allow410NoNo
18732670INTELLIGENT TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED HOOKAH SETJune 2024March 2025Allow1020NoNo
18588537RECEPTACLE SECTIONFebruary 2024June 2025Allow1520NoNo
18395106CIGARETTES AND THEIR CONSTRUCTIONDecember 2023March 2025Abandon1510NoNo
18509204SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A CLOSING MACHINENovember 2023March 2024Allow410NoNo
18504740HEATER FOR AN AEROSOL DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHODS OF FORMATION THEREOFNovember 2023March 2025Allow1610NoNo
18496484SMOKING ARTICLE WITH HEAT TRANSFER COMPONENTOctober 2023March 2025Abandon1610NoNo
18214977CIGAR TOBACCO STRIPS AND A METHOD FOR PACKAGING THE SAMEJune 2023March 2026Allow3340YesNo
18214963CIGAR TOBACCO STRIPS AND A METHOD FOR PACKAGING THE SAMEJune 2023June 2024Allow1210NoNo
18339287CARTRIDGE, POUCH AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE OF POUCH FOR USE WITH APPARATUS FOR HEATING SMOKABLE MATERIALJune 2023October 2024Allow1611NoNo
18338275ATOMIZER FOR ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE, AND CARTRIDGE AND ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE HAVING THE SAMEJune 2023March 2026Allow3210NoNo
18330597FLAVOR CARRIERS FOR ELECTRONIC VAPING DEVICEJune 2023August 2024Allow1410NoNo
18196086HOOKAH DEVICEMay 2023May 2024Allow1320YesNo
18195790HOOKAH DEVICEMay 2023May 2024Allow1210NoNo
18190249ELECTRONIC VAPING DEVICE AND COMPONENTS THEREOFMarch 2023February 2025Allow2220YesNo
18175089AEROSOL GENERATION METHOD AND APPARATUSFebruary 2023March 2025Allow2511NoNo
18110774PROTEIN-ENRICHED TOBACCO COMPOSITIONFebruary 2023August 2024Allow1820NoNo
18109846MODULAR APPARATUS FOR THE SELF-ADMINISTRATION OF CANNABINOIDSFebruary 2023July 2024Abandon1710NoNo
18167446METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE AUTOMATED PRODUCTION OF E-VAPOR DEVICESFebruary 2023May 2024Allow1510NoNo
18068273NON-NICOTINE POD ASSEMBLIES AND NON-NICOTINE E-VAPING DEVICESDecember 2022September 2024Allow2120NoNo
18067947NICOTINE POD ASSEMBLIES AND NICOTINE E-VAPING DEVICESDecember 2022October 2024Allow2220YesNo
17927520Method and System for Identifying Smoking ArticlesNovember 2022September 2025Allow3400NoNo
17998100AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE COMPRISING A MAIN RESERVOIR AND A CAPILLARY BUFFER RESERVOIRNovember 2022May 2025Allow3010NoNo
18053074NICOTINE POD ASSEMBLIES AND NICOTINE E-VAPING DEVICESNovember 2022September 2024Allow2220YesNo
17912696AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE AND AEROSOL GENERATING METHOD FOR PERFORMING MULTICALIBRATION ON TEMPERATURE VALUE MEASURED BY TEMPERATURE SENSORSeptember 2022January 2026Allow4011NoNo
17262355AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE FOR DISCHARGING VAPOR THAT IS VISUALLY DIFFERENT ACCORDING TO MODESeptember 2022June 2025Allow5310NoNo
17823086ROLLED SMOKING PRODUCT HOLDERAugust 2022April 2025Abandon3110NoNo
17802746Airflow ChimneyAugust 2022June 2025Allow3310NoNo
17889889NONWOVEN POUCH COMPRISING HEAT SEALABLE BINDER FIBERAugust 2022October 2025Allow3821YesNo
17877846HOOKAH DEVICEJuly 2022February 2023Allow720NoNo
17877875HOOKAH DEVICEJuly 2022April 2023Allow830NoNo
17877872HOOKAH DEVICEJuly 2022December 2022Allow410NoNo
17849212ROD FORMING APPARATUSJune 2022April 2024Allow2210NoNo
17845397ELECTRONIC VAPING DEVICEJune 2022May 2024Allow2310NoNo
17835919HOOKAH DEVICEJune 2022January 2024Allow1910NoNo
17835923HOOKAH DEVICEJune 2022September 2024Allow2730NoNo
17831303High-Power Drive Circuit for a Vaporizer HeaterJune 2022June 2025Allow3710YesNo
17781344AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE WITH PIERCING ASSEMBLYMay 2022August 2025Abandon3810NoNo
17745558ELECTRONIC CIGARETTEMay 2022October 2025Allow4130NoNo
17735045MULTIPURPOSE SMOKING IMPLEMENT SYSTEMMay 2022October 2024Abandon2910NoNo
17772755Filter Component for an Aerosol-Generating ArticleApril 2022October 2024Abandon2910NoNo
17723397SMOKING DEVICE WITH FILTERING, COOLING AND MAGNETIC BLUETOOTH CONNECTED SPEAKER AND GRINDERApril 2022December 2025Abandon4420NoNo
17718429PODS FOR VAPORIZERS AND SMOKING PRODUCTSApril 2022September 2025Allow4121NoNo
17715652SMOKING PIPE DEVICE WITH AN INSERTABLE FILTER AND METHOD OF USE THEREOFApril 2022May 2025Abandon3711NoNo
17713885Wrapper For Enclosing Smokable SubstancesApril 2022November 2025Abandon4411NoNo
17707054AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM INCLUDING A CARTRIDGE CONTAINING A GEL AND A DEVICE FOR HEATING THE CARTRIDGEMarch 2022March 2026Allow4831NoNo
17704432WATER PIPE WITH INTEGRATED LIGHTER RECEPTACLEMarch 2022September 2024Allow3020NoNo
17761435AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE COMPRISING AIR INLETS FOR CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL AIRFLOWMarch 2022February 2026Allow4731NoNo
17693359ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICE, HEATING METHOD THEREOF AND COMPUTER STORAGE MEDIAMarch 2022January 2026Allow4621NoNo
17642058A Holder for a Heat-Not-Burn Aerosol-Generating ArticleMarch 2022October 2024Abandon3110NoNo
17687496CARTRIDGE-BASED HEAT NOT BURN VAPORIZERMarch 2022April 2025Allow3810YesNo
17640658VAPORIZER CARTRIDGE AND INHALER COMPRISING SUCH A VAPORIZER CARTRIDGEMarch 2022January 2025Allow3520YesNo
17640512Aerosol Generation Device and Heating Chamber ThereforMarch 2022January 2026Allow4630YesNo
17640532HEAT-NOT-BURN CARTRIDGE WITH TOBACCO PAPERMarch 2022June 2025Allow3920NoNo
17681908VERY LOW NICOTINE CIGARETTESFebruary 2022June 2024Abandon2711NoNo
17681931METHODS AND DEVICES FOR COMMUNICATION OF DATA BETWEEN ELECTRONIC VAPING DEVICE AND EXTERNAL DEVICEFebruary 2022July 2024Allow2910NoNo
17579439CAPSULES, HEAT-NOT-BURN (HNB) AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICES, AND METHODS OF GENERATING AN AEROSOLJanuary 2022November 2025Allow4640YesYes
17597440AEROSOL GENERATING ARTICLES COMPRISING ORGANIC ACIDSJanuary 2022January 2025Allow3610NoNo
17597192NOVEL HEAT GENERATING BODY AND ATOMISERDecember 2021March 2025Allow3910NoNo
17620096ATOMIZER FOR ELECTRONIC CIGARETTEDecember 2021August 2024Allow3210NoNo
17300931HOOKAH DEVICEDecember 2021January 2023Allow1320YesNo
17540042AEROSOL GENERATION METHOD AND APPARATUSDecember 2021February 2024Allow2710NoNo
17540035AEROSOL GENERATION METHOD AND APPARATUSDecember 2021September 2023Allow2100NoNo
17540018AEROSOL GENERATION METHOD AND APPARATUSDecember 2021September 2023Allow2100NoNo
17527569TOBACCO ROD FOR FLAVOR INHALERNovember 2021July 2024Allow3230YesNo
17510026Smoking Apparatus Protection Device and MethodOctober 2021October 2024Abandon3610NoNo
17451181Combination Beverage Container and Smoking ApparatusOctober 2021July 2024Allow3310NoNo
17601633AEROSOL GENERATING SYSTEMOctober 2021April 2025Abandon4320NoNo
17600454METHOD FOR PRODUCING A VAPORIZING DEVICE, VAPORIZING DEVICE AND INHALER, PREFERABLY AN ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE PRODUCTSeptember 2021June 2024Allow3210NoNo
17489780INHALATION COMPONENT GENERATION DEVICE, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING INHALATION COMPONENT GENERATION DEVICE, AND PROGRAMSeptember 2021October 2025Allow4821NoNo
17460029SMOKING ARTICLE INCLUDING A FLAVOUR DELIVERY MEMBERAugust 2021October 2024Allow3730NoNo
17391942ADJUSTABLE AIRFLOW CARTRIDGE FOR ELECTRONIC VAPORIZERAugust 2021August 2023Allow2520NoNo
17382502PODS FOR VAPORIZERS AND SMOKING PRODUCTSJuly 2021May 2022Abandon1010NoNo
17418219COOLING CIGARETTE FILTER AND SMOKING PRODUCTJune 2021July 2024Allow3710NoNo
17355944CANNABIS BASED MOIST SNUFFJune 2021May 2024Abandon3510NoNo
17349349ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SMOKING DEVICE INCLUDING A SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING SMOKING ARTICLES IN THE DEVICEJune 2021January 2024Allow3110YesNo
17329739STANDALONE HERB PROCESSING, VAPORIZING, AND ADMINISTRATION APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODSMay 2021December 2023Abandon3110NoNo
17323320VERY LOW NICOTINE CIGARETTESMay 2021April 2022Abandon1110NoNo
17291623AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR PREPARING SMOKING PRODUCTS OF THE TYPE TO BE HEATED AND NOT BURNTMay 2021July 2024Abandon3910NoNo
17245461MACHINE FOR WRAPPING A SMOKABLE MATERIAL IN A WRAPPER, A FEEDING DEVICE FOR THE MACHINE, AND A SMOKABLE PRODUCT THEREFROMApril 2021September 2025Allow5221YesNo
17230070CONE FILLERApril 2021August 2023Abandon2830YesNo
17223846HOOKAH DEVICEApril 2021April 2023Allow2440NoNo
17216893Chilled Water Pipe and a Retrofit Apparatus for Chilling a Water PipeMarch 2021December 2023Abandon3210NoNo
17205795POUCHED PRODUCTS WITH HEAT SEALABLE BINDERMarch 2021January 2026Allow5841NoNo
17196770NONWOVEN POUCH COMPRISING HEAT SEALABLE BINDER FIBERMarch 2021June 2023Allow2700NoNo
17156103DRY CHAMBER LASER VAPORIZERJanuary 2021July 2024Allow4221YesNo
17259461Flower Cartridge for Herb DeliveryJanuary 2021May 2024Allow4040YesNo
17128231AEROSOL GENERATION DEVICE, AND METHOD AND PROGRAM FOR OPERATING SAMEDecember 2020December 2021Allow1220NoNo
17123819SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR HOOKAH FILTERINGDecember 2020January 2024Allow3710YesNo
17121890CELLULOSE ACETATE PARTICLE AGGREGATE, PREPARATION METHOD THEREFOR AND APPLICATION THEREOFDecember 2020February 2024Allow3810NoNo
17121322TOBACCO-DERIVED CELLULOSIC SUGARDecember 2020January 2026Abandon6031NoNo
17115828HEATER FOR AN AEROSOL DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHODS OF FORMATION THEREOFDecember 2020December 2023Allow3710NoNo
17113649Modular vaporizing device and systemDecember 2020December 2024Allow4821NoNo
17110893NON-BURNING TYPE FLAVOR INHALER AND CONTROL METHODDecember 2020January 2026Allow6040YesNo
17108975Pre-roll packing system and deviceDecember 2020June 2023Allow3020YesNo
17107314VERY LOW NICOTINE CIGARETTE BLENDED WITH VERY LOW THC CANNABISNovember 2020March 2021Allow410NoNo
17052427An Aerosol Generating Article, A Method For Manufacturing An Aerosol Generating Article And An Aerosol Generating SystemNovember 2020August 2024Allow4520NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner WILL, KATHERINE A.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
6
Examiner Affirmed
6
(100.0%)
Examiner Reversed
0
(0.0%)
Reversal Percentile
2.3%
Lower than average

What This Means

With a 0.0% reversal rate, the PTAB affirms the examiner's rejections in the vast majority of cases. This reversal rate is in the bottom 25% across the USPTO, indicating that appeals face significant challenges here.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
24
Allowed After Appeal Filing
3
(12.5%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
21
(87.5%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
15.1%
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, 12.5% 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

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

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

Examiner WILL, KATHERINE A - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner WILL, KATHERINE A works in Art Unit 1747 and has examined 391 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 66.8%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 37 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner WILL, KATHERINE A's allowance rate of 66.8% places them in the 28% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by WILL, KATHERINE A receive 2.17 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 59% 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 WILL, KATHERINE A is 37 months. This places the examiner in the 32% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly slower than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +21.2% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by WILL, KATHERINE A. This interview benefit is in the 66% 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, 24.6% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 36% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show below-average effectiveness with this examiner. Carefully evaluate whether an RCE or continuation is the better strategy.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 36.6% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 55% 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, 146.7% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 89% 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 76.9% of appeals filed. This is in the 68% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 65.0% 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, 39.2% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 28% 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 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 6% 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 5.4% of allowed cases (in the 81% percentile). Per MPEP § 714.14, a Quayle action indicates that all claims are allowable but formal matters remain. This examiner frequently uses Quayle actions compared to other examiners, which is a positive indicator that once substantive issues are resolved, allowance follows quickly.

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.

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.