Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.
| Application Number | Title | Filing Date | Disposal Date | Disposition | Time (months) | Office Actions | Restrictions | Interview | Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19034465 | Leading-Edge Ducted Fan Thrust Reduction System | January 2025 | March 2026 | Allow | 14 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18992415 | AERIAL PAYLOAD DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THEREOF | January 2025 | January 2026 | Allow | 13 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 19009271 | ASSEMBLY FOR REINFORCING THE FUSELAGE OF AN AIRCRAFT WHEN REMOVING A REMOVABLE PANEL | January 2025 | September 2025 | Allow | 8 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 19008417 | Modular, configurable airframe system for heavy lift rotary wing UAV | January 2025 | March 2026 | Allow | 14 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18967378 | Payload Delivery Device | December 2024 | January 2026 | Allow | 13 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18936958 | HYDROGEN-SOLAR INTEGRATED ENERGY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AIRCRAFT | November 2024 | September 2025 | Allow | 10 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18929946 | Loitering Craft | October 2024 | August 2025 | Allow | 10 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18912438 | SATELLITES AND SATELLITE STACKS FOR LAUNCH | October 2024 | November 2025 | Allow | 13 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18906111 | Space-Based Data Centers | October 2024 | October 2025 | Allow | 13 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 18853041 | DEVICE FOR ROTATING AN AIRCRAFT WHEEL | September 2024 | July 2025 | Allow | 10 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18893998 | VERTICAL TAKE-OFF AND LANDING AIRCRAFT AND CONTROL METHOD OF VERTICAL TAKE-OFF AND LANDING AIRCRAFT | September 2024 | November 2025 | Allow | 14 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18778500 | Swivel Nose Caster for Aircraft Floats | July 2024 | April 2025 | Allow | 9 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18778580 | Notched Hydroplane Surface for Aircraft Floats | July 2024 | May 2025 | Allow | 9 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18769024 | WING FOR AN AIRCRAFT AND HIGH LIFT ASSEMBLY | July 2024 | December 2025 | Allow | 17 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18766055 | SOLAR POWERED STRATOSPHERIC GLIDER | July 2024 | June 2025 | Allow | 11 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18754304 | DEPLOYABLE EGRESS RAMP SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AIRCRAFT | June 2024 | June 2025 | Allow | 12 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18663184 | Distributed Propulsion System for Vertical Take Off and Landing Closed Wing Aircraft | May 2024 | March 2025 | Allow | 10 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18650650 | DISTRIBUTED PROPULSION SYSTEM | April 2024 | April 2025 | Allow | 12 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18649089 | NECK SUPPORTING DEVICE | April 2024 | March 2026 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18700187 | SAFETY DEVICE AND FLIGHT VEHICLE INCLUDING SAFETY DEVICE | April 2024 | February 2026 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18630228 | VEHICLE SEAT | April 2024 | October 2025 | Allow | 18 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18627778 | AIRCRAFT HAVING A DIHYDROGEN TRANSPORT PIPE AND A SYSTEM FOR EXTRACTING SAID DIHYDROGEN TO THE OUTSIDE | April 2024 | July 2025 | Allow | 15 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18698410 | THE METHOD OF OBTAINING LIFT AND THRUST FOR HORIZONTAL FLIGHT OF VERTICAL TAKE-OFF AND LANDING FLYING MACHINE WHILE MAINTAINING THE HORIZONTAL STABILITY OF THE MACHINE'S FLIGHT AND THE MACHINE TO IMPLEMENT THIS METHOD | April 2024 | December 2025 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18621513 | AIRCRAFT | March 2024 | July 2025 | Allow | 16 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18618261 | AIRCRAFT COMPRISING A DIHYDROGEN TRANSPORT LINE, A CHANNEL FOR EMBEDDING SAID TRANSPORT LINE AND A SYSTEM FOR EVACUATING AIR AND WATER PRESENT IN SAID EMBEDDED CHANNEL | March 2024 | May 2025 | Allow | 14 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18617451 | HYBRID ICE PROTECTION SYSTEM | March 2024 | July 2025 | Allow | 16 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18615247 | ROTARY ACTUATOR | March 2024 | May 2025 | Allow | 14 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18615117 | INTEGRATED SEAT ASSEMBLY WITH HEADREST AND NECK SUPPORT | March 2024 | November 2025 | Allow | 19 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18592939 | VERTICAL TAKE-OFF AND LANDING AIRCRAFT | March 2024 | November 2025 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18588784 | ATTACHMENT SYSTEMS FOR AUGMENTING SATELLITES | February 2024 | October 2025 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18587862 | FLEXIBLE SLIDE FOR NECK AND HEAD SUPPORT | February 2024 | October 2025 | Allow | 20 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18443457 | BULL-BAR ASSEMBLY WITH ACCESS TO A VEHICLE COMPONENT | February 2024 | March 2026 | Allow | 25 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18440931 | Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft | February 2024 | August 2025 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18439906 | VEHICLE FRONT STRUCTURE | February 2024 | March 2026 | Allow | 25 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18538179 | AERIAL VEHICLES, COOPERATIVE FLYING SYSTEMS, AND METHODS OF OPERATING THE SAME | December 2023 | September 2025 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18524914 | STUD-PROPELLING MECHANISMS FOR SECURING A LAUNCH VEHICLE TO A LANDING PLATFORM, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS | November 2023 | July 2025 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18519699 | VEHICLE-BODY FRAME STRUCTURE | November 2023 | February 2026 | Allow | 27 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18562339 | METHOD, PROCESSING CIRCUITRY, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM INTENDED FOR USE WITH A SATELLITE CONSTELLATION INCLUDING ONE HUNDRED OR MORE SATELLITES | November 2023 | May 2025 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18513916 | Propulsion System for an Aircraft | November 2023 | March 2025 | Allow | 16 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18386734 | AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE HAVING AN IMPROVED INLET OPENING FOR ENGINE AIR | November 2023 | October 2025 | Allow | 23 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18491511 | DUAL-MODE ELECTRICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR SMALL SPACECRAFT AND CUBESATS | October 2023 | April 2025 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18381539 | EMERGENCY LANDING PARACHUTE-BALLOON SYSTEM | October 2023 | February 2025 | Allow | 16 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18487854 | AIRSHIPS AND RELATED METHODS | October 2023 | April 2025 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18375540 | APPARATUS FOR INGESTING BOUNDARY LAYER FLOW FOR AN AIRCRAFT | October 2023 | August 2024 | Allow | 10 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18373188 | FRONT END MODULE FRAME OF VEHICLE | September 2023 | February 2026 | Allow | 29 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18371639 | ANTI-GLARE SUNSHADE | September 2023 | December 2025 | Allow | 27 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18370152 | PERSONAL FLYING APPARATUS INCORPORATING A HARNESS AND METHOD OF FACILITATING HUMAN FLIGHT | September 2023 | April 2025 | Allow | 19 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18549314 | LOW-DENSITY FIXED-WING CARGO AIRCRAFT DESIGNS FOR ENCLOSED NON-BUOYANT TRANSPORTATION OF WIND TURBINE COMPONENTS | September 2023 | June 2025 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18243049 | FLUIDIC PROPULSIVE SYSTEM | September 2023 | October 2025 | Allow | 25 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 18363426 | AIRCRAFT COMPRISING A STRUCTURE, A TANK AND MEANS FOR FASTENING THE TANK TO THE STRUCTURE | August 2023 | January 2025 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18226850 | METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING POWER BASED ON AERODYNAMIC DECELERATION, STRUCTURE AND APPLICATION THEREOF | July 2023 | January 2025 | Allow | 18 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18273382 | Propulsion System for Electric Aircraft | July 2023 | August 2025 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18273069 | FLIGHT UNIT FOR AN AIRCRAFT | July 2023 | May 2025 | Allow | 22 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 18259127 | AIRCRAFT ANTI-ICING PROTECTION SYSTEM USING BLOWN HOT AIR WITH REDUCED ENERGY PENALTY | June 2023 | August 2024 | Allow | 14 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18268945 | STORAGE DEVICE, UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE, AND SYSTEM | June 2023 | May 2025 | Allow | 23 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 18039618 | SYSTEMS FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE DOCKING, STORAGE, AND LOADING | May 2023 | March 2025 | Allow | 21 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18325217 | AIRCRAFT HAVING A DIHYDROGEN TRANSPORT PIPE, AN EMBEDDING CHANNEL FOR SAID TRANSPORT PIPE AND AN AERATION SYSTEM FOR SAID EMBEDDING CHANNEL | May 2023 | July 2025 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18039388 | TOWER ASSEMBLY FOR AN AIRCRAFT MONUMENT | May 2023 | April 2025 | Allow | 22 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18323389 | AIRCRAFT FLUID ICE PROTECTION SYSTEM | May 2023 | November 2024 | Allow | 18 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18200810 | PARALLEL HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM | May 2023 | August 2024 | Allow | 15 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18035570 | ATTACHMENT SYSTEMS FOR AUGMENTING SATELLITES | May 2023 | August 2024 | Abandon | 15 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 18310198 | Vertical Take Off and Landing Closed Wing Aircraft | May 2023 | April 2024 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18305321 | HYBRID AIRSHIP FOR PACKAGE DELIVERY | April 2023 | February 2025 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18130777 | HYBRID VTOL AERIAL VEHICLE | April 2023 | February 2025 | Abandon | 22 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18127905 | AIRCRAFT FUSELAGE AND MODULE FOR ABSORBING CRASH ENERGY IN A LOWER DECK, USED FOR TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS, OF AN AIRCRAFT | March 2023 | December 2024 | Allow | 21 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18044911 | TEXTILE AIRFOIL STRUCTURE FOR A WING SYSTEM, AND TRANSPORT DEVICE | March 2023 | February 2025 | Allow | 23 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18168683 | Distributed Propulsion System for Vertical Take Off and Landing Closed Wing Aircraft | February 2023 | December 2024 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18168257 | DISTRIBUTED PROPULSION SYSTEM | February 2023 | March 2024 | Allow | 13 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18103627 | AIRCRAFT HAVING REVERSE THRUST CAPABILITIES | January 2023 | August 2025 | Allow | 30 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18102342 | APPARATUS FOR INGESTING BOUNDARY LAYER FLOW FOR AN AIRCRAFT | January 2023 | July 2023 | Allow | 6 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18091826 | AIRCRAFT CONTROL SURFACE WITH INTEGRATED HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR | December 2022 | November 2024 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18069843 | AIRFLOW GUIDE STRUCTURE AND AIRCRAFT | December 2022 | January 2025 | Allow | 25 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18001068 | DEVICE FOR CAPTURING A FLYING CRAFT AND CAPTURE SYSTEM COMPRISING A DRONE PROVIDED WITH SUCH A DEVICE | December 2022 | June 2024 | Allow | 18 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18058637 | Payload Delivery Device | November 2022 | August 2024 | Allow | 32 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17979641 | UAV Having a Rotatable Cargo Bay | November 2022 | September 2025 | Allow | 34 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17948518 | AIRCRAFT HAVING A DIHYDROGEN TRANSPORT PIPE AND AN EMBEDDING CHANNEL FOR SAID TRANSPORT PIPE | September 2022 | May 2024 | Allow | 20 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 17942678 | Multi-Rotor Safety Shield | September 2022 | December 2025 | Abandon | 39 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17906077 | SAFETY DEVICE, AND FLYING VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH SAFETY DEVICE | September 2022 | October 2024 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17897344 | ENCLOSURE FOR CONTACTS OF AIRCRAFT WING HEATER BLANKET | August 2022 | December 2023 | Allow | 16 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17821480 | METHOD OF FLIGHT CONTROL IN A VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING AERIAL VEHICLE WITH ANGLED PROPELLERS | August 2022 | June 2023 | Allow | 10 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 17891534 | PARALLEL HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM | August 2022 | February 2023 | Allow | 6 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17819933 | Fixed-Wing UAV with Lifting Propellers and Traction Propellers | August 2022 | April 2023 | Allow | 8 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17819638 | Method of Flight Control in a Fixed-Wing Drone | August 2022 | October 2022 | Allow | 2 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17819629 | Method of Flight Control in a Fixed-Wing Drone | August 2022 | November 2022 | Allow | 3 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17885110 | ELECTRIC VEHICLE PORT | August 2022 | August 2024 | Allow | 24 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17880488 | MULTIMODAL AIRCRAFT RECOVERY SYSTEM | August 2022 | October 2023 | Allow | 15 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17879641 | MULTI-AXIS HYBRID AIRCRAFT | August 2022 | May 2024 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17861698 | Electrically driven blade control for rotorcraft | July 2022 | August 2024 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17824190 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TETHERED UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE TAKEOFF, LANDING, AND STORAGE | May 2022 | May 2025 | Allow | 35 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17664613 | AIRCRAFT PLUG DOOR WITH IN-PLANE LOAD TRANSFER CAPACITY AND METHODS OF USE | May 2022 | February 2025 | Allow | 33 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17748778 | AERIAL VEHICLES WITH TRANSITIONING LANDING GEAR AND RELATED METHODS | May 2022 | December 2023 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17744114 | CARGO HOOK ASSEMBLY AND HELICOPTER | May 2022 | May 2024 | Allow | 24 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17774746 | FLAPPING ROTOR DEVICE WITH UPLINK VERTICAL ROTATION AND DOWNLINK HORIZONTAL ROTATION | May 2022 | July 2024 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17734018 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR A PORTABLE COCKPIT SEAT | April 2022 | January 2024 | Allow | 21 | 5 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17727924 | PROPULSIONLESS HYPERSONIC DUAL ROLE MUNITION | April 2022 | July 2024 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17769623 | UPLOCK PROVIDED WITH RETENTION DETECTION MEANS | April 2022 | July 2024 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17767383 | A Self-Powered Drone Flying Car for Land and Air | April 2022 | September 2024 | Allow | 29 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17694749 | AIRCRAFT | March 2022 | September 2023 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17693365 | AUTONOMOUS CATAPULT-ASSISTED TAKE-OFF, RECYCLING, AND REUSE DEVICE AND METHOD OF FLAPPING-WING UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE (UAV) | March 2022 | April 2023 | Allow | 13 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17652705 | WINGED DRONE WITH ADJUSTABLE CENTER OF GRAVITY FOR CARRYING A PAYLOAD | February 2022 | July 2024 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner MCFALL, NICHOLAS A.
With a 33.3% reversal rate, the PTAB reverses the examiner's rejections in a meaningful percentage of cases. This reversal rate is above the USPTO average, indicating that appeals have better success here than typical.
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, 28.6% 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.
✓ 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 shows limited benefit. Consider other strategies like interviews or amendments before appealing.
Examiner MCFALL, NICHOLAS A works in Art Unit 3644 and has examined 555 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 87.6%, this examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 30 months.
Examiner MCFALL, NICHOLAS A's allowance rate of 87.6% places them in the 67% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications.
On average, applications examined by MCFALL, NICHOLAS A receive 1.19 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 14% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues significantly fewer office actions than most examiners.
The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by MCFALL, NICHOLAS A is 30 months. This places the examiner in the 61% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.
Conducting an examiner interview provides a +12.5% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by MCFALL, NICHOLAS A. This interview benefit is in the 49% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide a below-average benefit with this examiner.
When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 36.1% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 82% 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.
This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 59.6% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 85% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner is highly receptive to after-final amendments compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 714.12, after-final amendments may be entered "under justifiable circumstances." Consider filing after-final amendments with a clear showing of allowability rather than immediately filing an RCE, as this examiner frequently enters such amendments.
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 64% 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.
This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 66.7% of appeals filed. This is in the 51% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 66.7% 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.
When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 35.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 22% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions are rarely granted regarding this examiner's actions compared to other examiners. Ensure you have a strong procedural basis before filing a petition, as the Technology Center Director typically upholds this examiner's decisions.
Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 1.6% of allowed cases (in the 72% percentile). This examiner makes examiner's amendments more often than average to place applications in condition for allowance (MPEP § 1302.04).
Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 38% percentile). This examiner issues Quayle actions less often than average. Allowances may come directly without a separate action for formal matters.
Based on the statistical analysis of this examiner's prosecution patterns, here are tailored strategic recommendations:
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.