USPTO Examiner SPARKS RUSSELL E - Art Unit 1755

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18403311Mouthpiece Assembly for an Inhalation Device including a Replaceable Substrate Component, and a Replaceable Substrate Component thereforJanuary 2024March 2026Allow2621NoNo
18475952Electronic Cigarette Cartridge HolderSeptember 2023May 2025Abandon1940NoNo
18235323ATOMIZER AND ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE HAVING THE SAMEAugust 2023July 2025Abandon2310NoNo
18233408A WEB OF TIPPING PAPERAugust 2023February 2025Allow1800NoNo
18276909STRUCTURED FILTER MATERIAL FOR NICOTINE DELIVERY PRODUCTSAugust 2023March 2026Allow3110NoNo
18231036ULTRASONIC ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE ATOMIZERAugust 2023June 2025Allow2220YesNo
18342173SMOKING ARTICLEJune 2023September 2025Allow2711NoNo
18200706CUTTING AND ARRANGING RODS FOR TOBACCO INDUSTRY PRODUCTSMay 2023March 2026Allow3431YesNo
18135713ELECTRONIC CIGARETTEApril 2023September 2024Allow1700NoNo
18030881Vaporizer, Consumable Container Therefore, Vaporizer System Thereof and Method of Obtaining Information About a Consumable ContainerApril 2023December 2025Abandon3201NoNo
18026981An Aerosol Generating ArticleMarch 2023October 2025Allow3110NoNo
18184584VAPING DEVICEMarch 2023January 2026Allow3410NoNo
18026485A HEATING ELEMENT HAVING INCREASED RESISTANCEMarch 2023September 2025Allow3001NoNo
18026225AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICEMarch 2023March 2026Allow3611NoNo
18182000ATOMIZER, ELECTRONIC ATOMIZATION DEVICE, AND LIQUID GUIDE MECHANISMMarch 2023January 2026Allow3401NoNo
18025284An Aerosol Generating ArticleMarch 2023November 2025Allow3201NoNo
18025089AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE INCLUDING REAL-TIME CLOCK AND OPERATING METHOD OF THE SAMEMarch 2023December 2025Allow3411NoNo
18174874VAPORIZATION ASSEMBLY AND ELECTRONIC VAPORIZATION DEVICEFebruary 2023January 2026Allow3421NoNo
18109994SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING ROSIN AND OTHER VISCOUS MATERIALSFebruary 2023September 2025Allow3101YesNo
18166761METHOD OF CONFIGURING FLUID PERMEABLE HEATERFebruary 2023December 2024Allow2310NoNo
18019523VAPORIZER FOR CONTROLLED AEROSOLIZATION OF CANNABINOID CONCENTRATESFebruary 2023October 2025Abandon3301NoNo
18019412Aerosol Generating Article and SystemFebruary 2023May 2025Abandon2800NoNo
18096674Additive Manufacturing Apparatus, System, and MethodJanuary 2023February 2026Allow3720NoNo
18153613BURNING PREDICTION AND COMMUNICATIONS FOR AN ELECTRONIC CIGARETTEJanuary 2023December 2024Allow2310NoNo
18093839FORMING A FRACTIONATED CANNABIS CONCENTRATEJanuary 2023May 2025Allow2800NoNo
18093742PERSONAL VAPORIZING UNITJanuary 2023August 2025Allow3110NoNo
18085895Apparatus and Method for Manufacturing Tobacco Industry ProductsDecember 2022May 2024Allow1721NoNo
18061690APPLICATION OF A FLAVORANT PARTICLE IN A FILTER OF A SMOKING ARTICLE FOR DELIVERING FLAVORDecember 2022March 2025Allow2721NoNo
17967706GAS INHALATION DEVICES AND METHODS UTILIZING ELECTRICAL DISCHARGEOctober 2022June 2024Abandon2020NoNo
17800335Aerosol Generation Device with Ceramic Heater BaseAugust 2022October 2025Abandon3810NoNo
17904256AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE WITH PREDETERMINED INSERTION DIRECTIONAugust 2022July 2025Allow3511NoNo
17796105AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICEJuly 2022August 2025Allow3701NoNo
17813813AEROSOL DELIVERY SYSTEMJuly 2022March 2025Abandon3201NoNo
17813032CIGAR HOLDER AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAMEJuly 2022February 2024Allow1900NoNo
17792702AEROSOL PRODUCING ARTICLE AND AEROSOL GENERATING SYSTEMJuly 2022October 2025Allow3921NoNo
17859248Reconstituted Tobacco For Devices That Heat Tobacco Without Burning ItJuly 2022November 2025Allow4140NoNo
17843742Heating System for Vaporizable Material InsertJune 2022October 2025Allow4020YesNo
17838762Aerosol Generating Device With A LaserJune 2022June 2024Allow2420YesNo
17784898AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE WITH LEAK PREVENTIONJune 2022March 2026Allow4531NoNo
17836541AEROSOL DELIVERY DEVICE WITH INDEXING MOVEMENTJune 2022February 2024Allow2010NoNo
17782833SMOKING ARTICLE FILTER INCLUDING SOLID FLAVORING AGENT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAMEJune 2022June 2025Allow3621NoNo
17747321SMOKING PIPE WITH IMPROVED TAR TRAPMay 2022May 2024Abandon2410NoNo
17747288SMOKING PIPE WITH IMPROVED DRAFT HOLESMay 2022March 2024Abandon2210NoNo
17663862METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING BOTTLEMay 2022January 2024Abandon2020NoNo
17747070SHEAR WEB MOULD SYSTEM COMPRISING VARIABLE MOULDING PLATESMay 2022June 2024Allow2520YesNo
17633395PRODUCTION DEVICE FOR FUEL TANKFebruary 2022June 2023Allow1620YesNo
17565213AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME, AND CHARGING SYSTEM INCLUDING SAMEDecember 2021December 2024Allow3630YesNo
17543623ISOLATION MEMBER AND ATOMIZERDecember 2021July 2024Allow3120NoNo
17540998AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME, AND CHARGING SYSTEM INCLUDING SAMEDecember 2021July 2025Allow4440NoNo
17530261AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAMENovember 2021June 2024Allow3121NoNo
17611766Heat-Not-Burn Stick Comprising Foam-Like Aerosol-Generating Material Arranged In A ContainerNovember 2021November 2025Allow4830YesNo
17605296AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE FOR USE WITH AN AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLEOctober 2021March 2025Abandon4011NoNo
17604631AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE FOR VARIABLY CONTROLLING POWEROctober 2021August 2025Allow4620YesNo
17501746Method of Piercing a CigarOctober 2021January 2023Allow1510NoNo
17497411ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SMOKING DEVICE INCLUDING A COMPACT SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING SMOKING ARTICLES IN THE DEVICEOctober 2021July 2024Allow3331NoNo
174930783D PRINTING METHOD USING SLIPOctober 2021April 2024Abandon3140NoYes
17438523METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING A CORRUGATED WEBSeptember 2021January 2026Abandon5241YesNo
17404925RESERVOIR-LESS VAPING-ALTERNATIVE DEVICES AND RELATED METHODSAugust 2021May 2025Abandon4560YesNo
17430787Electronic Cigarette With Audible ConnectionAugust 2021October 2025Abandon5030YesNo
17390952TEMPERATURE RESISTANT DEVICE USED TO ASSIST IN REMOVAL OF CANNABIS CONCENTRATE RECLAIMJuly 2021October 2023Allow2700NoNo
17443206INHALATION DEVICEJuly 2021May 2024Allow3330YesNo
17423930SMOKING ARTICLE TIPPING PAPER COATED WITH FUNCTIONAL MATERIAL AND METHOD OF COATING THE TIPPING PAPERJuly 2021September 2025Abandon5031NoNo
17423308HEATER FOR CIGARETTE-LIKE ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE WITH EXCELLENT HEAT TRANSFER EFFICIENCY AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOFJuly 2021October 2025Allow5120YesNo
17361628SMOKING ARTICLE FILTER FOR EASY EXTINGUISHINGJune 2021June 2025Abandon4851YesNo
17347980Vaporizer DevicesJune 2021September 2024Allow3920YesNo
17341407Gas Combustion Heating Smoking ArticleJune 2021June 2023Abandon2510NoNo
17340954METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRE-ROLLL PAPERS OR WRAP WITH TIPSJune 2021July 2024Abandon3810YesNo
17314210AEROSOL DELIVERY DEVICEMay 2021January 2026Allow5641YesYes
17290323AEROSOLIZABLE FORMULATIONApril 2021September 2025Allow5351NoNo
17290322AEROSOLIZED FORMULATIONApril 2021June 2025Allow4941NoNo
17223773ORAL POUCH PRODUCTApril 2021October 2025Allow5441YesNo
17220231WEB OF TIPPING PAPERApril 2021November 2023Abandon3211NoNo
17220720FILTER FOR AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICEApril 2021September 2025Allow5470NoYes
17178531SMOKING CESSATION DEVICE AND METHODFebruary 2021April 2023Abandon2620NoNo
17165604METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THREE-DIMENSIONALLY FORMED OBJECT AND THREE-DIMENSIONALLY FORMED OBJECT MANUFACTURING APPARATUSFebruary 2021April 2023Allow2710YesNo
17160932AUTOMATED PRE-ROLL FILL AND TWIST SYSTEM AND METHODJanuary 2021May 2023Abandon2701NoNo
17160633ELECTRONIC SMOKING ARTICLEJanuary 2021November 2024Allow4550NoNo
17156986Additive Manufacturing Apparatus, System, and MethodJanuary 2021December 2023Allow3511NoNo
17247987HEATING SMOKEABLE MATERIALJanuary 2021June 2023Abandon2911NoNo
17134680CIGARETTE ROLLING MACHINEDecember 2020September 2024Allow4530YesNo
17254758ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE ATOMIZER AND ELECTRONIC CIGARETTEDecember 2020July 2024Allow4240NoNo
16970251Method and System For Producing of Reconstituted Vegetable FilmsDecember 2020August 2024Allow4821NoNo
17116159E-VAPOR DEVICE INCLUDING CAPSULE CONTAINING PRE-VAPOR FORMULATIONDecember 2020July 2025Allow5660YesYes
17115835AEROSOL-GENERATING APPARATUS, THERMAL DISTRIBUTION CASING, AND RELATED METHODSDecember 2020October 2023Allow3412NoNo
17095306SMOKING ARTICLENovember 2020March 2023Allow2810NoNo
17074008TOBACCO GRANULES AND METHOD OF PRODUCING TOBACCO GRANULESOctober 2020April 2025Allow5460NoNo
16982382METHOD AND TOOL FOR PRODUCING A PLASTIC CONTAINER, PARTICULARLY A FUEL CONTAINER, BY INTERNAL PRESSURE FORMINGOctober 2020September 2024Allow4831YesNo
17045534THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTINGOctober 2020March 2025Allow5322NoNo
17043019OPENING-CLOSING ASSEMBLY FOR TOBACCO HEATERSeptember 2020August 2024Abandon4710NoNo
17040793INHALER WITH COMPOSITE POROUS SUPPORT ELEMENTSeptember 2020March 2023Allow3000NoNo
17040216INHALER WITH APERATURED POROUS SUPPORT ELEMENTSeptember 2020November 2023Allow3711NoNo
17040220INHALER WITH VORTEX CAPSULE CAVITYSeptember 2020December 2023Allow3921NoNo
17002592HASHISH CIGARETTE PRODUCT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTUREAugust 2020March 2025Abandon5440NoNo
16999740BLOW MOLDED PART INCLUDING COMPRESSION MOLDED ELEMENTAugust 2020April 2024Allow4441NoNo
16999298SUBSTITUTE SMOKING CONSUMABLEAugust 2020November 2024Abandon5020YesNo
16967837METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FOLDING A WEB OF MATERIALAugust 2020May 2024Allow4521YesNo
16941873PORTABLE VAPORIZERJuly 2020July 2024Abandon4811NoNo
16963921DEVICE FOR REMOVING PLASTIC PRODUCTSJuly 2020September 2024Allow5041YesYes
16961040A Mouthpiece Assembly for an Inhalation Device including a Replaceable Substrate Component, and a Replaceable Substrate Component thereforJuly 2020April 2025Allow5731YesNo
16924327Mouthpiece DeviceJuly 2020November 2023Abandon4030NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner SPARKS, RUSSELL E.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
9
Examiner Affirmed
6
(66.7%)
Examiner Reversed
3
(33.3%)
Reversal Percentile
49.9%
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
25
Allowed After Appeal Filing
5
(20.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
20
(80.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
24.7%
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, 20.0% 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

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 SPARKS, RUSSELL E - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner SPARKS, RUSSELL E works in Art Unit 1755 and has examined 119 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 73.9%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 48 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner SPARKS, RUSSELL E's allowance rate of 73.9% places them in the 38% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by SPARKS, RUSSELL E receive 3.89 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 97% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues more office actions than most examiners, which may indicate thorough examination or difficulty in reaching agreement with applicants.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by SPARKS, RUSSELL E is 48 months. This places the examiner in the 7% 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 +14.9% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by SPARKS, RUSSELL E. This interview benefit is in the 54% 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, 16.6% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 13% 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 22.4% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 29% 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.

Pre-Appeal Conference Effectiveness

When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 118.2% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 81% 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 69.0% of appeals filed. This is in the 55% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 75.0% 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, 40.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 29% 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 40.9% of allowed cases (in the 97% 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:

  • Expect multiple rounds of prosecution: This examiner issues more office actions than average. Address potential issues proactively in your initial response and consider requesting an interview early in prosecution.
  • 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.
  • 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.