USPTO Examiner GORDON STEPHEN T - Art Unit 3612

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19245990CONVERTIBLE TRAILER SYSTEM FOR HAULING GENERAL CARGO OR LIQUID IN BULKJune 2025September 2025Allow300NoNo
18325717Track Fitting Having Visible and Tactile IndicatorMay 2023March 2026Allow3300NoNo
18143518ELECTRIC CABLE FOR REFUSE VEHICLE WITH SERVICE LIFTMay 2023February 2026Allow3401YesNo
18162150METHOD OF INHIBITING MOVEMENT OF CARGO DURING TRANSPORTJanuary 2023January 2026Allow3620NoNo
17732318ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR SECURING A LOAD IN A VEHICLEApril 2022March 2026Abandon4610NoNo
17730901RESTRAINT SYSTEM FOR CARTS AND OTHER CARGOApril 2022December 2025Allow4310YesNo
17691249DUMP CARTMarch 2022January 2026Allow4620NoNo
17576211WHEELCHAIR DOCKING SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOFJanuary 2022February 2026Allow4920NoNo
17570180Spacer PadsJanuary 2022March 2026Allow5011NoNo
17543815Securing Cargo for Rail Transport Using Polymer Foam MaterialDecember 2021December 2025Allow4810NoNo
17173490TWO POINT WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMFebruary 2021November 2025Allow5711NoNo
17248715CONCEALED, SECURE STORAGE COMPARTMENTFebruary 2021May 2021Allow320YesNo
17070690EDGE PROTECTORS FOR LOAD SECUREMENTOctober 2020February 2021Allow410NoNo
17031413Load Securing DeviceSeptember 2020March 2021Allow511NoNo
17030323INTERMODAL CARGO CONTAINER SYSTEM WITH SELECTIVELY DEPLOYABLE AUTOMATIC WHEEL BRAKE AND STABILIZER MECHANISMSSeptember 2020July 2021Allow1020YesNo
17028272EXPANDABLE NETSeptember 2020January 2021Allow401NoNo
16996772ASSISTANCE VEHICLE TILT LIFTAugust 2020December 2020Allow410NoNo
16798631Magnetic Tie-Down HookFebruary 2020April 2020Allow200NoNo
16635746LOGISTICS ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR UNLOADING OBJECTS FROM A LOGISTICS STAND COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF LOGISTICS ARRANGEMENTSJanuary 2020June 2020Allow500NoNo
16778133CARGO BODY WALL WITH LOGISTICS TRACKSJanuary 2020July 2021Allow1701NoNo
16718037Cargo Lashing FittingDecember 2019May 2021Allow1700NoNo
16674081System for the Retention and Immobilization of Stacked Intermodal ChassisNovember 2019September 2021Allow2210NoNo
16654609TAILGATE UTILITY RAIL AND ATTACHMENTSOctober 2019October 2020Allow1201NoNo
16591314LOAD HOLD-DOWN DEVICE WITH RETRACTABLE STRAPOctober 2019August 2020Allow1000NoNo
16587008HYDRAULIC BALE TRAILERSeptember 2019February 2021Allow1611NoNo
16583635SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TYING DOWN AN OBJECTSeptember 2019November 2020Allow1301NoNo
16584881BLADE SUPPORT APPARATUSSeptember 2019June 2021Allow2101YesNo
16582326PROTECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR FLEXIBLE PIPE COILS AND METHOD OF USING SAMESeptember 2019August 2020Allow1111NoNo
16539293MODULAR SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING WIND TURBINE BLADESAugust 2019September 2020Allow1400NoNo
16602131Bicycle mounting systemAugust 2019February 2020Allow600NoNo
16535156DUMP TRAILERAugust 2019August 2021Allow2511NoNo
16484439FASTENING DEVICE FOR DETACHABLY FASTENING OF AN OBJECT TO A VEHICLE FLOORAugust 2019July 2020Allow1100NoNo
16534713ADJUSTABLE WHEEL CHOCK SYSTEMAugust 2019February 2021Allow1800NoNo
16515818ASSISTANCE VEHICLE TILT LIFTJuly 2019June 2020Allow1100NoNo
16477254AUTOMOBILE CHASSIS FOR CARRYING AUTOMOBILE BODY AND VARIOUS SPECIALLY-EQUIPPED DEVICES AS LOADSJuly 2019May 2021Allow2210NoNo
16474365INFLATABLE TRANSPORT BOXJune 2019July 2021Allow2410NoNo
16436210REMOVABLE TIE-DOWN ASSEMBLYJune 2019February 2021Allow2000NoNo
16426362Mission Equipment Restraint SystemMay 2019August 2020Allow1500NoNo
16420442TIE DOWN ASSEMBLYMay 2019April 2021Allow2311NoNo
16410528TIE-DOWN ASSEMBLYMay 2019August 2020Allow1500NoNo
16397443INTEGRATED MANDREL VEHICLE RESTRAINT WITH PEDAL TENSIONERApril 2019December 2020Allow1910NoNo
16345288VARIABLE STRAP LOCATION ON WHEEL RESTRAINT SYSTEMApril 2019February 2021Allow2111NoNo
16389411STRAPPING DEVICEApril 2019April 2021Allow2410NoNo
16384123Narrow Door Vehicle Sling Bag Track SystemApril 2019June 2021Abandon2611NoNo
16383804Vehicle Restraint System for Grated Driving SurfacesApril 2019March 2021Allow2311NoNo
16379513MODULAR FUEL STORAGE SYSTEMApril 2019March 2020Allow1101NoNo
16377357SELECTIVELY SEALABLE VEHICLE BED PARTITION AND VEHICLE INCORPORATING THE SAMEApril 2019April 2021Allow2420YesNo
16377231Tailgate Protection DeviceApril 2019January 2021Abandon2110NoNo
16373322CARGO SYSTEMS FOR USE WITH VEHICLES, SUCH AS AUTONOMOUS DELIVERY VEHICLESApril 2019August 2019Allow501NoNo
16361738TRANSPORT TRAILERMarch 2019November 2020Allow2010NoNo
16355715Strap Winch CoverMarch 2019July 2020Allow1600NoNo
16355422INTERLOCKING, QUICK-RELEASE HORIZONTAL LOGISTIC TRACKMarch 2019February 2021Allow2311NoNo
16351750Tailgate Integrated ToolboxMarch 2019May 2021Allow2610NoNo
16292824SIDE GUIDE, SIDE GUIDE GROUP, CARGO DECK, AIRCRAFTMarch 2019January 2021Allow2310YesNo
16285907SUPPORTIVE BELLY PAD FOR A ROUNDED TRAILERFebruary 2019September 2020Allow1910NoNo
16270993Tie Down Strap SystemFebruary 2019July 2020Allow1810NoNo
16266233LOW BED HIGH DUMP TRAILERFebruary 2019January 2021Allow2301NoNo
16261017ROTATABLE TAILGATEJanuary 2019August 2020Allow1901NoNo
16261040ANGLED TIE DOWN ANCHORSJanuary 2019April 2021Allow2720YesNo
16257127STOWAGE SYSTEM FOR STOWING A TWO-WHEELED VEHICLE IN A MOTOR VEHICLEJanuary 2019December 2020Allow2310NoNo
16239926ROPE TIE DOWN APPARATUSJanuary 2019June 2020Allow1711NoNo
16238741SHIELD ASSEMBLY FOR A DUMP BOXJanuary 2019January 2021Allow2420YesNo
16233179Pickup Box Header and Integrated Toolbox AssemblyDecember 2018June 2021Allow3021NoNo
16225398TAILGATE STORAGE COMPARTMENTDecember 2018September 2020Allow2100NoNo
16226511CARGO SYSTEMS FOR USE WITH VEHICLES, SUCH AS AUTONOMOUS DELIVERY VEHICLESDecember 2018October 2019Allow1011NoNo
16204627Cargo Securing DeviceNovember 2018February 2020Allow1500NoNo
16184954SYSTEM FOR SECURING A SEAT NOTABLY FOR AIRCRAFT AND SEAT COMPRISING SUCH A SYSTEMNovember 2018December 2020Allow2520NoNo
16179442MOVABLE EQUIPMENT LOADING AND UNLOADING STRUCTURENovember 2018August 2020Allow2210NoNo
16178040VARIABLE FRICTION CARGO SURFACE SYSTEM FOR VEHICLESNovember 2018November 2020Allow2411NoNo
16350302Load lock inflatable marine systemOctober 2018July 2020Allow2120NoNo
16154135FRUNK AND TRUNK STORAGE BAGGAGE RETENTION AND REMAINDEROctober 2018January 2021Allow2701NoNo
16151731VEHICLE STORAGE COMPARTMENTOctober 2018June 2021Allow3311NoNo
16150710LOAD SECURING ASSEMBLYOctober 2018July 2020Allow2210NoNo
16140223TRUCK BED ACCESSORY MOUNTING PANELSSeptember 2018January 2021Allow2720YesNo
16135035SLIDING TRAYSeptember 2018May 2021Allow3221YesNo
16133965PROTECTION DEVICE WITH MODULABLE DIMENSIONS FOR AN EQUIPMENT ANCHORING RAILSeptember 2018May 2021Allow3210NoNo
16129202CARABINER WITH CANTILEVER SPRINGSeptember 2018August 2020Allow2311NoNo
16123020LOAD SECURING BARSeptember 2018April 2021Allow3220YesNo
16110278ANCHOR PLATE FOR PICK-UP TRUCK BOXAugust 2018November 2020Abandon2711NoNo
16105814LUGGAGE ROOM SCREEN APPARATUS OF VEHICLEAugust 2018March 2020Allow1900NoNo
16104640Barrel tie-down bracketAugust 2018July 2020Allow2311NoNo
16055601Two Point Wheelchair Securement SystemAugust 2018November 2020Allow2701NoNo
16054381SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPREHENSIVE TRAILER DUNNAGEAugust 2018January 2021Abandon3001NoNo
16052792FRONT TOWER FOR MACHINEAugust 2018March 2020Allow2000NoNo
16028040METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERMODAL CONTAINER HANDLINGJuly 2018June 2020Abandon2310NoNo
16028276CLASPING MECHANISMJuly 2018June 2020Allow2320NoNo
16025079TURBINE BLADE DISPOSAL SYSTEMJuly 2018June 2020Abandon2310NoNo
16025526COT FASTENING SYSTEMJuly 2018April 2021Allow3321YesNo
16067200TRANSPORT FRAME FOR A WIND TURBINE BLADEJune 2018December 2020Allow2910NoNo
16018608TRUCK WITH HEAT TRANSFER SYSTEMJune 2018November 2020Allow2821NoNo
16017297PALLET ADAPTERJune 2018July 2019Allow1300NoNo
16064573TWO-LEVEL PALLET FOR STACKABLE LOADINGJune 2018December 2019Allow1800NoNo
16062322RAILWAY WAGON FOR TRANSPORTING TRUCKS AND METHOD FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING TRUCKJune 2018October 2019Allow1600NoNo
16062341TRANSPORT VEHICLE FOR CONTAINERSJune 2018December 2019Allow1800NoNo
15780690MOBILE PLATFORM CABIN CONFIGURED FOR PASSENGER AND CARGO TRANSPORTJune 2018July 2020Allow2611NoNo
15777122SYSTEM FOR IMMOBILIZING A SEMI-TRAILER KINGPIN ON A TRANSPORT VEHICLEMay 2018July 2019Allow1400NoNo
15982721Modular Offset Mounting ApparatusMay 2018June 2020Allow2511YesNo
15982696Modular Truck Bed Mounting Apparatus and Kit ThereforMay 2018May 2020Allow2401NoNo
15972183Cargo drawer for a pickup truckMay 2018October 2020Allow2920YesNo
15967978PAYLOAD CARRYING MACHINE AND DUMP BODY LINKAGEMay 2018September 2020Allow2821YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner GORDON, STEPHEN T.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
2
Examiner Affirmed
2
(100.0%)
Examiner Reversed
0
(0.0%)
Reversal Percentile
14.7%
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
10
Allowed After Appeal Filing
3
(30.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
7
(70.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
45.5%
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, 30.0% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is below the USPTO average, suggesting that filing an appeal has limited effectiveness in prompting favorable 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 shows limited benefit. Consider other strategies like interviews or amendments before appealing.

Examiner GORDON, STEPHEN T - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner GORDON, STEPHEN T works in Art Unit 3612 and has examined 1,200 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 78.2%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 23 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner GORDON, STEPHEN T's allowance rate of 78.2% places them in the 46% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by GORDON, STEPHEN T receive 1.05 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 11% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues significantly fewer office actions than most examiners.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by GORDON, STEPHEN T is 23 months. This places the examiner in the 87% percentile for prosecution speed. Applications move through prosecution relatively quickly with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +9.4% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by GORDON, STEPHEN T. This interview benefit is in the 41% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide a below-average benefit with this examiner.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 35.8% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 81% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs are highly effective with this examiner compared to others. If you receive a final rejection, filing an RCE with substantive amendments or arguments has a strong likelihood of success.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 47.4% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 72% 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, 0.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 15% percentile among all examiners. Note: Pre-appeal conferences show limited success with this examiner compared to others. While still worth considering, be prepared to proceed with a full appeal brief if the PAC does not result in favorable action.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 75.0% of appeals filed. This is in the 66% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 83.3% 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, 64.7% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 70% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions show above-average success regarding this examiner's actions. Petitionable matters include restriction requirements (MPEP § 1002.02(c)(2)) and various procedural issues.

Examiner Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 12.7% of allowed cases (in the 95% 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 14.5% of allowed cases (in the 91% 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:

  • RCEs are effective: This examiner has a high allowance rate after RCE compared to others. If you receive a final rejection and have substantive amendments or arguments, an RCE is likely to be successful.
  • 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.