USPTO Examiner SANDERSON JOSEPH W - Art Unit 3619

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18674926Electric Tiltrotor AircraftMay 2024June 2025Allow1310NoNo
18438266Vibration Isolation Systems for Compound HelicoptersFebruary 2024April 2025Allow1410NoNo
18408030ROTORCRAFT-ASSISTED SYSTEM FOR LAUNCHING AND RETRIEVING A FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT INTO AND FROM FREE FLIGHTJanuary 2024March 2025Allow1410NoNo
18445383Rotating Detonation Engines And Related Devices And MethodsAugust 2023June 2025Allow2210NoNo
18233524Dispersion Structure for ImpactAugust 2023March 2025Allow1900YesNo
18206592SPACECRAFT SERVICING DEVICES AND RELATED ASSEMBLIES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODSJune 2023May 2025Allow2310NoNo
18329723LANDING GEAR SHRINK LINK MECHANISMJune 2023May 2025Allow2410NoNo
18327660BATTERY-FREE UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLEJune 2023June 2025Allow2510NoNo
18322096LOAD INTRODUCTION SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A LOAD INTRODUCTION SYSTEMMay 2023June 2025Allow2520YesNo
18302754STACKED SPACECRAFT LAUNCH AND ORBIT RAISINGApril 2023January 2025Allow2110NoNo
18133077LAUNCHER FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (UAVs)April 2023November 2024Allow1910NoNo
18191937STRUT ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR COUPLING AN ENGINE TO A WING OF AN AIRCRAFTMarch 2023June 2025Allow2731YesNo
18125300ROTARY WING VEHICLEMarch 2023October 2024Allow1910NoNo
18027661LOW NOISE VERTICAL TAKE-OFF AND LANDING (VTOL) UNMANNED AIR VEHICLE (UAV)March 2023January 2025Abandon2210NoNo
18186758UAV PARACHUTE DEPLOYMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING A ROTOR GUARDMarch 2023January 2025Allow2220YesNo
18118480Propulsion System for an In-situ Acoustic Wildfire Suppression Unmanned VehicleMarch 2023April 2025Abandon2511NoNo
18116925Wide-Angle SeekerMarch 2023December 2024Abandon2210NoNo
18176996SHOCK LOAD ATTENUATIONMarch 2023September 2024Allow1810YesNo
18171345Expandable Strut Assembly for a Wing of an Aircraft and Method of Using the SameFebruary 2023February 2025Allow2411YesNo
18171347Extendable Compression Chain System and Method of Using the SameFebruary 2023September 2024Allow1901YesNo
18166129RESILIENT UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE LANDING PLATFORMSFebruary 2023August 2024Allow1912NoNo
18018970Efficient Turnaround System for AircraftJanuary 2023September 2024Allow1910YesNo
18103314UNMANNED SUPPLY DELIVERY AIRCRAFTJanuary 2023December 2024Allow2320YesNo
18013558WING STRUCTURE FOR VEHICLE, AND VEHICLEDecember 2022August 2024Allow2010NoNo
18087051DRAIN PLUG FOR A BOATDecember 2022June 2025Allow3000YesNo
18011987TACTICAL HYBRID STRATOSPHERIC AIRSHIPDecember 2022February 2025Allow2610NoNo
18084123SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SPACECRAFT REPROVISIONINGDecember 2022December 2024Abandon2410NoNo
17992103JET-PROPELLED VTOL HYBRID CARNovember 2022January 2025Abandon2610NoNo
18055785AERIAL VEHICLE SAFETY APPARATUS AND AERIAL VEHICLENovember 2022October 2024Allow2320NoNo
17971831ENGINE-MOUNTED AUTONOMOUS FLYING DEVICEOctober 2022June 2025Allow3140YesYes
18045984SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FUNCTIONALITY AND CONTROLS FOR A VTOL FLYING CAROctober 2022December 2024Abandon2610NoNo
17962982HYBRID-ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT, AND METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS FOR FACILITATING SAMEOctober 2022July 2024Allow2210NoNo
17954079AIRCRAFT WITH A COMBUSTION ENGINE HAVING AN EXHAUST AHEAD OF ITS AIR INTAKESeptember 2022August 2024Allow2320YesNo
17953861LANDING GEAR STAYSeptember 2022October 2023Allow1300YesNo
17895384AIRCRAFT FOR COMMERCIAL AIR TRAVEL AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTUREAugust 2022November 2023Allow1510NoNo
17892761MULTI-DRIVE UNIT PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR AN AIRCRAFTAugust 2022July 2024Allow2311YesNo
17889689ANCHOR FOR SECURING AN AIRCRAFT TO A LANDING GRID AND AIRCRAFTAugust 2022June 2024Allow2220YesNo
17795612Flat Plate Airfoil Platform VehicleJuly 2022November 2024Allow2720YesNo
17873865TILTING LANDING GEAR SYSTEMS AND METHODSJuly 2022December 2023Allow1620YesNo
17868483TILTING LANDING GEAR SYSTEMS AND METHODSJuly 2022January 2025Allow3040YesNo
17857464ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A MULTIPLE PAYLOAD SET AND GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENTJuly 2022June 2024Allow2310YesNo
17785677COMPONENT SYSTEM FOR INTERIOR FURNISHING OF AN AIRCRAFTJune 2022March 2024Allow2110NoNo
17785857HYBRID SYSTEMS FOR DRONES AND OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTJune 2022June 2025Allow3630YesNo
17829822FLYING CARJune 2022March 2024Allow2120YesNo
17744145MULTICOPTER WITH ANGLED ROTORSMay 2022November 2023Allow1810NoNo
17744469MULTICOPTER WITH BOOM-MOUNTED ROTORSMay 2022November 2023Allow1810YesNo
17735606RETRACTABLE AIRCRAFT LANDING GEARMay 2022October 2023Allow1810YesNo
17734734AIRCRAFT WING AND CONNECTION ASSEMBLY FOR A HIGH LIFT ASSEMBLYMay 2022January 2024Allow2010YesNo
17734021INTELLIGENT GIMBAL ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR UNMANNED VEHICLEApril 2022September 2024Abandon2910NoNo
17733487HYBRID ELECTRIC VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING AIRCRAFTApril 2022January 2024Allow2140YesNo
17709883Unmanned Flying DeviceMarch 2022September 2024Allow2930NoNo
17656110AIRCRAFT WING TRAILING EDGE SECTION ASSEMBLYMarch 2022September 2023Allow1810YesNo
17626758LANDING APPARATUS FOR AN AIR VEHICLEJanuary 2022September 2023Allow2010NoNo
17625203FUSELAGE STRUCTURE OF AN AIRCRAFT AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAMEJanuary 2022January 2024Allow2410NoNo
17596603PARACHUTE DEVICE, FLIGHT DEVICE, AND FLYING BODY EJECTION MECHANISMDecember 2021July 2023Allow1910YesNo
17536450THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR REENTRY VEHICLESNovember 2021August 2023Allow2110NoNo
17527519METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING HYDROGENNovember 2021April 2024Abandon2940NoNo
17512421TILTING LANDING GEAR SYSTEMS AND METHODSOctober 2021November 2023Allow2520YesNo
17440943CARGO DOOR OPERATING METHOD AND DEVICESeptember 2021April 2024Allow3111NoNo
17478683AIRCRAFT FOR COMMERCIAL AIR TRAVEL AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTURESeptember 2021May 2022Allow820YesNo
17467125MULTIPLE CONTROLLABLE AIRFLOW MODIFICATION DEVICESSeptember 2021October 2023Allow2610YesNo
17446782AUTONOMOUS THRUST VECTORING RING WING PODSeptember 2021November 2023Allow2620NoNo
17386189SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED AIR-LAUNCH OF A LAUNCH VEHICLE FROM A TOWED AIRCRAFTJuly 2021August 2023Allow2510YesNo
17385945Penetrating High Wing Structure of Civil Aircraft with Blended-Wing-BodyJuly 2021April 2024Abandon3320NoNo
17377538ROTARY WING AIRCRAFT WITH AN ASYMMETRICAL FRONT SECTIONJuly 2021June 2024Allow3521NoNo
17372388SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CARRYING AN AERONAUTICAL OR LAUNCH VEHICLE TO ALTITUDE FOR RELEASE TO FLIGHTJuly 2021July 2024Allow3621NoNo
17366749VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING AIRCRAFTJuly 2021February 2024Allow3121NoNo
17362252Passenger Seat Crash Safety SystemJune 2021July 2023Allow2410NoNo
17357361Helicopter Tail Rotor Drive System on Demand Speed ControlJune 2021March 2023Allow2100NoNo
17413137FRAME FOR AIRCRAFT AND AIRCRAFTJune 2021July 2024Abandon3710NoNo
17332085Mechanically-Distributed Propulsion Drivetrain and ArchitectureMay 2021August 2024Allow3850YesNo
17319629Autorotative Enhancement SystemMay 2021January 2025Abandon4450YesNo
17246969ROTORCRAFT-ASSISTED SYSTEM FOR LAUNCHING AND RETRIEVING A FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT INTO AND FROM FREE FLIGHTMay 2021October 2023Allow2921NoNo
17245010SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ROTATING A ROTOR OF A TILTROTOR AIRCRAFTApril 2021June 2023Allow2610NoNo
17239001ACOUSTIC SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR URBAN AIR MOBILITY VEHICLESApril 2021August 2023Allow2720YesNo
17217932Tailored Rotor-Blade Ice-Protection SystemMarch 2021December 2023Allow6020NoNo
17188198LANDING GEAR SHRINK LINK MECHANISMMarch 2021March 2023Allow2510NoNo
17176864Advanced Emergency Collective Actuator with Friction Pull-Off and Method for a HelicopterFebruary 2021July 2023Allow2910NoNo
17170672ELECTRIC TILTROTOR AIRCRAFTFebruary 2021January 2024Allow3520YesNo
17166884UNMANNED ELLIPSOID MULTI-ROTOR AIRSHIP AND RESPECTIVE METHOD OF CONSTRUCTIONFebruary 2021January 2024Allow3630NoNo
17154925Vibration Isolation Systems for Compound HelicoptersJanuary 2021January 2024Allow3621YesNo
17153815SELF-HEALING SHIELD CONFIGURED TO PROTECT AN ENVIRONMENT FROM HIGH VELOCITY PARTICLESJanuary 2021February 2023Allow2510YesNo
17114714VERTICAL FILL METHODDecember 2020July 2023Abandon3210NoNo
15734976SPACECRAFT ASSEMBLY ARRANGED ABOUT A CENTRAL AXIS AND LINKED ON LONGITUDINAL EDGES BY FASTENERSDecember 2020February 2023Allow2710YesNo
15734438DEVICE FOR CLOSING A SPACE WITHIN AN AIRPLANEDecember 2020May 2023Allow2920NoNo
17108592Tail Rotor Configurations for Rotorcraft Yaw Control SystemsDecember 2020August 2023Allow3241YesNo
17107095SPACECRAFT SERVICING DEVICES AND RELATED ASSEMBLIES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODSNovember 2020February 2023Allow2610NoNo
17073688AIRCRAFT COMPRISING A REAR WING ATTACHMENT HAVING AT LEAST TWO LATERAL LINKS AND A SHEAR PINOctober 2020January 2023Allow2710YesNo
17040632AUTONOMOUS PACKAGE STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM USING A DRONESeptember 2020February 2024Allow4111YesNo
17015568RECOVERY OF A FINAL STAGE OF A SPACECRAFT LAUNCH VEHICLESeptember 2020October 2022Allow2501YesNo
17007647ROTARY WING VEHICLEAugust 2020January 2023Allow2811YesNo
16994495OPTICS AND STRUCTURE FOR SPACE APPLICATIONSAugust 2020March 2021Allow701NoNo
16901957UNMANNED SUPPLY DELIVERY AIRCRAFTJune 2020September 2022Allow2710YesNo
16651173ENGINE-MOUNTED AUTONOMOUS FLYING DEVICEJune 2020March 2023Abandon3610YesNo
16888255AERIAL SWIMMER APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMSMay 2020May 2022Allow2410YesNo
16883838ROCKET PROPELLED DRONEMay 2020December 2023Allow4321YesNo
15930599Adhesive Panels of Microvane Arrays for Reducing Effects of Wingtip VorticesMay 2020September 2022Allow2810NoNo
16856684ROBUST AMPHIBIOUS AIRCRAFTApril 2020July 2022Allow2701YesNo
16847266FLIGHT CONTROL FOR AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLEApril 2020August 2022Allow2910NoNo
16753066UNMANNED FLIGHT EQUIPMENT AND DELIVERY METHODApril 2020October 2022Allow3010YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner SANDERSON, JOSEPH W.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
9
Examiner Affirmed
8
(88.9%)
Examiner Reversed
1
(11.1%)
Reversal Percentile
22.4%
Lower than average

What This Means

With a 11.1% 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
16
Allowed After Appeal Filing
3
(18.8%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
13
(81.2%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
20.4%
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, 18.8% 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 SANDERSON, JOSEPH W - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner SANDERSON, JOSEPH W works in Art Unit 3619 and has examined 337 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 83.4%, this examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 29 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner SANDERSON, JOSEPH W's allowance rate of 83.4% places them in the 51% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by SANDERSON, JOSEPH W receive 1.58 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 41% 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 SANDERSON, JOSEPH W is 29 months. This places the examiner in the 48% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly slower than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +9.7% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by SANDERSON, JOSEPH W. This interview benefit is in the 45% 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, 27.7% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 38% 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 51.3% 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 52.6% of appeals filed. This is in the 18% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 30.0% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). Strategic Insight: This examiner rarely withdraws rejections during the appeal process compared to other examiners. If you file an appeal, be prepared to fully prosecute it to a PTAB decision. Per MPEP § 1207, the examiner will prepare an Examiner's Answer maintaining the rejections.

Petition Practice

When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 40.5% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 40% 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 6.8% of allowed cases (in the 92% 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 10.0% of allowed cases (in the 88% 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:

  • 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.