USPTO Examiner PRICE JR RICHARD THOMAS - Art Unit 3643

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19119029JOINT CUTTING APPARATUSApril 2025June 2025Allow200NoNo
18910047ONSITE CO2 GENERATION FOR POULTRY STUNNINGOctober 2024May 2025Allow811NoNo
18835278SLICING DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR SLICING WORKPIECEAugust 2024June 2025Allow1100NoNo
18790843SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A SORTATION MODULE AND CARCASS PROCESSING OPTIONSJuly 2024September 2024Allow200NoNo
18717680MEAT SEPARATOR AND DEVICE FOR STRIPPING MEAT PART FROM BONE-IN MEATJune 2024June 2025Allow1200NoNo
18716270POULTRY PROCESSING APPARATUSJune 2024June 2025Allow1300NoNo
18651798SHRIMP PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHODSMay 2024June 2025Allow1410NoNo
18651961SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSPECTING POULTRY SLAUGHTER PRODUCTSMay 2024July 2024Allow300NoNo
18700159A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING POULTRY LEGSApril 2024March 2025Allow1200NoNo
18628601ELECTRIC GAFF HOOK SYSTEMApril 2024October 2024Allow700NoNo
18601788SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATED FISH PROCESSINGMarch 2024August 2024Allow601NoNo
18600475ELECTRIC SNATCH HOOK SYSTEMMarch 2024December 2024Allow1000NoNo
18582481SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATED FISH PROCESSINGFebruary 2024July 2024Allow500NoNo
18441712METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING A MEAT PRODUCT AND USING A KNIFE FOR AUTOMATED CUTTING OF MEATFebruary 2024October 2024Allow800NoNo
18682328APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETACHING MEAT STRIPS LOCATED ON A BREASTBONE CREST OF A POULTRY CARCASSFebruary 2024March 2025Allow1300NoNo
18431958Portable Fish Cleaning Station For Use With BoatFebruary 2024April 2024Allow300NoNo
18414381APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING MEAT FROM BONEJanuary 2024September 2024Allow810NoNo
18577629SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING A CARCASS PARTJanuary 2024February 2025Allow1300NoNo
18575902CUTTING APPARATUSJanuary 2024February 2025Allow1300NoNo
18399316Fish Filleting Stand DeviceDecember 2023February 2025Allow1400NoNo
18392851METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SKIN FROM ANIMAL PARTSDecember 2023September 2024Allow900NoNo
18390666SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A SORTATION MODULE AND CARCASS PROCESSING OPTIONSDecember 2023November 2024Allow1111NoNo
18562451INTESTINAL TRACT PART PROCESSING DEVICE AND METHODNovember 2023January 2025Allow1400NoNo
18511601FISH PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND METHODSNovember 2023January 2025Allow1400NoNo
18495759DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ELECTRIC SLAUGHTERING TORTOISESOctober 2023January 2025Allow1500NoNo
18287831POULTRY LEG MEAT SLIT-FORMING DEVICE AND POULTRY LEG MEAT AUTOMATIC SLIT-FORMING METHODOctober 2023April 2025Allow1800NoNo
18556505A MACHINE FOR FILLETING FISHOctober 2023February 2025Allow1600NoNo
18287821POULTRY LEG MEAT DEBONING DEVICE AND POULTRY LEG MEAT DEBONING METHODOctober 2023December 2024Allow1400NoNo
18490410HAND HELD WIND-UP HIGH-POWERED SPRING NON-PENETRATING CAPTIVE BOLT DEVICEOctober 2023November 2024Allow1300NoNo
18555856APPLICATION OF MICROWAVES TO ANIMALSOctober 2023August 2024Allow1001NoNo
18377839OYSTER SHUCKING APPARATUSOctober 2023June 2025Abandon2010NoNo
18483116SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTINUOUS LIVESTOCK SUPPLYOctober 2023January 2025Allow1611NoNo
18554356CUTTING DEVICE FOR SPLITTING AN ANIMAL CARCASS IN HALF AND ROBOT INCORPORATING SUCH CUTTING DEVICEOctober 2023March 2025Allow1710NoNo
18480138ANIMAL EUTHANASIA METHOD AND APPARATUSOctober 2023June 2025Allow2001NoNo
18370023BIRD FEEDER WITH SQUIRREL RESISTING FEATURESSeptember 2023April 2025Allow1900NoNo
18241734ELECTRIC POWERHEAD DEVICESeptember 2023January 2025Allow1600NoNo
18241610SCRAPER AND PROCESSING LINE FOR CLEANING THE NECK OF POULTRYSeptember 2023November 2024Allow1500NoNo
18234309FISH STUNNING DEVICE MOUNTABLE TO A FISHING LINEAugust 2023November 2024Allow1500NoNo
18447761Coextrusion head, food processing machine and assembly methodAugust 2023November 2024Allow1600NoNo
18230769CORRECTIVE COLLAR UTILIZING GEOLOCATION TECHNOLOGYAugust 2023May 2024Allow1011NoNo
18365269Handheld Meat Tenderizing DeviceAugust 2023April 2025Abandon2010NoNo
18229597ROD STANDAugust 2023February 2025Allow1901NoNo
18274815Separating an Intestine from a Bowel PackageJuly 2023October 2024Allow1400NoNo
18355404METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR INTELLIGENT PROCESSING OF AQUATIC PRODUCTSJuly 2023September 2023Allow200NoNo
18349722SEPARATING DEVICE, RELATED CRIMPING ELEMENT, AND METHODJuly 2023October 2024Allow1500NoNo
18215537ELECTRIC GAFF HOOK SYSTEMJune 2023December 2023Allow610NoNo
18256780DESKINNING DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOVING SKIN FROM A POULTRY LEG PRODUCTJune 2023January 2025Allow2010NoNo
18256826A SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR PROCESSING POULTRY SLAUGHTER PRODUCTSJune 2023October 2023Allow400NoNo
18266459A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING A BACKHALVE OF A SLAUGHTERED POULTRY CARCASSJune 2023October 2024Allow1600NoNo
18265782OVERHANG RAIL TRANSPORT SYSTEMJune 2023December 2023Allow700NoNo
18265808A FOOD PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING CARCASS PARTSJune 2023September 2024Allow1500NoNo
18255369Live insects transport deviceJune 2023April 2025Allow2210NoNo
18324969METHOD OF PROCESSING AN INTACT ANIMAL CARCASSMay 2023June 2024Abandon1310NoNo
18201389SYSTEM FOR STUNNING ANIMALS USING AN ANOXIC STUNNING GASMay 2023August 2024Allow1500NoNo
18253654A SKINNING DEVICE FOR REMOVING SKIN FROM AN ANIMAL CARCASS WHEN CONVEYED BY A CONVEYOR MEANSMay 2023October 2024Allow1700NoNo
18199108CRUSTACEAN BUTCHERING APPARATUSMay 2023August 2024Allow1500NoNo
18196848METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REHANGING POULTRY, AND A SHACKLE FOR SUSPENDING THE POULTRYMay 2023August 2024Allow1600NoNo
18195672Hanging Line with Smoking Rod Length MeasurementMay 2023July 2024Allow1400NoNo
18144221TOOL ATTACHMENT SYSTEM FOR GAMBRELSMay 2023June 2024Allow1310NoNo
18035643DEVICE AND METHOD FOR REMOVING LEAF LARD FROM SLAUGHTERED ANIMALSMay 2023December 2024Allow1910NoNo
18143409Clipping Machine with Energy RecoveringMay 2023August 2024Allow1600NoNo
18143201Production System and Coupling Unit for Producing Sausage-Shaped ProductsMay 2023November 2024Allow1810YesNo
181428693-D Feature ProtectorMay 2023June 2025Abandon2520NoNo
18137526SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY SUSPENDING POULTRY FROM A CARRIER OF A CARRIER CONVEYORApril 2023July 2024Allow1500NoNo
18137497SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY SUSPENDING POULTRY FROM A CARRIER OF A CONVEYORApril 2023December 2024Allow2010NoNo
18137146HINGED PLATEApril 2023July 2024Allow1500NoNo
18249680MACHINE FOR CLEANING FOWL GIBLETSApril 2023June 2025Allow2601NoNo
18126581SINGULATION AND SEPARATION SYSTEM FOR A SHRIMP PROCESSORMarch 2023July 2024Allow1510NoNo
18126357DOG COLLAR LEASH ATTACHMENT AND METHODS OF USEMarch 2023July 2024Allow1500NoNo
18246537SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ROTATING PRODUCTS DURING PROCESSINGMarch 2023April 2025Allow2510NoNo
18121771Detection UnitMarch 2023May 2024Allow1400YesNo
18121058FAST CHILLING METHOD FOR IMPROVING BEEF TENDERNESSMarch 2023July 2023Allow400NoNo
18183550RESTRAINT APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STABILIZING A SUSPENDED CARCASS AND SKINNING MACHINEMarch 2023August 2024Allow1700NoNo
18245237A METHOD OF PREPARING AN ANIMAL FOR SLAUGHTERMarch 2023November 2024Allow2010NoNo
18121257Reusable Cooking Truss System For PoultryMarch 2023November 2024Abandon2010NoNo
18115079Disposable Cat Litter BoxFebruary 2023November 2023Allow810NoNo
18021478METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DEBONING OF A CARCASS LEG PART OF A FOUR-LEGGED SLAUGHTER ANIMAL, FOR REMOVING MEAT FROM A BONE OF THE CARCASS LEG PARTFebruary 2023April 2024Allow1400NoNo
18167911CONFIGURABLE LABYRINTH FOR AN ANIMALFebruary 2023March 2025Allow2520YesNo
18020707Intestine SelectionFebruary 2023April 2024Allow1400NoNo
18107532OYSTER SHUCKING APPARATUSFebruary 2023July 2023Allow500NoNo
18102806METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SKIN FROM ANIMAL PARTSJanuary 2023September 2023Allow810NoNo
18101492FOOD TENDERIZER SLEEVE AND METHOD OF USEJanuary 2023May 2024Allow1500NoNo
18158671SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FOWL KEEL REMOVALJanuary 2023May 2024Allow1600NoNo
18014825APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY PROCESSING GUTTED POULTRY CARCASSES OR PARTS THEREOFJanuary 2023May 2023Allow500NoNo
18069849SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING BREAST FROM POULTRY CARCASSDecember 2022August 2024Allow2010NoNo
18079992METHOD AND PLANT FOR INSPECTING AN ANIMAL CARCASSDecember 2022May 2024Allow1700NoNo
18078604Deskinning Apparatus for a Poultry LegDecember 2022July 2024Allow1900NoNo
18009038MACHINE AND METHOD FOR CLEANING POULTRY OFFALDecember 2022September 2024Allow2200NoNo
18077080APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONVEYING ARTICLES OF THE FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRYDecember 2022August 2024Allow2010NoNo
18008300A SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR PROCESSING A CARCASS LEG PARTDecember 2022May 2023Allow500NoNo
17928909A CUTTING SYSTEM FOR CUTTING CARCASS PARTS WHILE THE CARCASS PARTS ARE CARRIED BY CARRIERS CONNECTED TO AND MOVED BY AN OVERHANG TRANSPORT SYSTEMNovember 2022April 2024Allow1700NoNo
17925254TRANSPORT APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING EVISCERATED POULTRY CARCASSES OR PARTS THEREOF, AND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ATTACHING AND PROCESSING THE POULTRY CARCASSES OR PARTS THEREOFNovember 2022May 2023Allow600NoNo
17985584LABORATORY ANIMAL RESTRAINTNovember 2022February 2023Allow300NoNo
17984033PREPARED CHICKEN OR OTHER ANIMAL PRODUCTNovember 2022February 2024Allow1611NoNo
17984084SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF A FISH PROCESSING DEVICENovember 2022April 2025Abandon2911NoNo
17997950REMOVING FEATHERS FROM POULTRY CARCASSESNovember 2022January 2025Allow2710NoNo
17920454APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MOVING-ALONG TOOL POSITIONING AS WELL AS ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR WISHBONE REMOVALOctober 2022April 2023Allow600NoNo
18047205WATER DISPENSER APPARATUS FOR USE BY POULTRYOctober 2022November 2024Allow2510NoNo
17919367PULLING DEVICEOctober 2022November 2024Abandon2501NoNo
17919148EVERSION DEVICE AND SMALL INTESTINE PROCESSING LINEOctober 2022May 2023Allow701NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner PRICE JR, RICHARD THOMAS.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
7
Examiner Affirmed
3
(42.9%)
Examiner Reversed
4
(57.1%)
Reversal Percentile
82.1%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 57.1% reversal rate, the PTAB has reversed the examiner's rejections more often than affirming them. This reversal rate is in the top 25% across the USPTO, indicating that appeals are more successful here than in most other areas.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
44
Allowed After Appeal Filing
22
(50.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
22
(50.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
80.9%
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, 50.0% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is in the top 25% across the USPTO, indicating that filing appeals is particularly effective here. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.

Strategic Recommendations

Appeals to PTAB show good success rates. If you have a strong case on the merits, consider fully prosecuting the appeal to a Board decision.

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

Examiner PRICE JR, RICHARD THOMAS - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner PRICE JR, RICHARD THOMAS works in Art Unit 3643 and has examined 2,179 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 88.6%, this examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 17 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner PRICE JR, RICHARD THOMAS's allowance rate of 88.6% places them in the 66% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by PRICE JR, RICHARD THOMAS receive 0.84 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 8% 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 PRICE JR, RICHARD THOMAS is 17 months. This places the examiner in the 97% percentile for prosecution speed. Applications move through prosecution relatively quickly with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a -3.9% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by PRICE JR, RICHARD THOMAS. This interview benefit is in the 4% percentile among all examiners. Note: Interviews show limited statistical benefit with this examiner compared to others, though they may still be valuable for clarifying issues.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 39.2% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 87% 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 44.0% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 61% 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, 80.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 61% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: Pre-appeal conferences show above-average effectiveness with this examiner. If you have strong arguments, a PAC request may result in favorable reconsideration.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 82.5% of appeals filed. This is in the 73% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 39.4% 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, 40.3% 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 8.3% of allowed cases (in the 94% 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 6.9% of allowed cases (in the 83% 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.