USPTO Examiner FABULA MICHAEL A - Art Unit 3647

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
17133055AERIAL LAUNCH AND/OR RECOVERY FOR UNMANNED AIRCRAFT WITH SUBMERSIBLE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODSDecember 2020September 2023Allow3310YesNo
17133068AERIAL LAUNCH AND/OR RECOVERY FOR UNMANNED AIRCRAFT, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODSDecember 2020September 2023Abandon3310NoNo
17097873DRONE BOXNovember 2020September 2023Abandon3410NoNo
17097882STORAGE UNIT FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE (UAV)November 2020December 2024Abandon4931NoNo
17093059PROTECTOR DEVICE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF MULTI-PRONGED ELEMENTSNovember 2020February 2023Allow2710YesNo
17089490REEL SYSTEM FOR AN UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE AND RELATED METHODSNovember 2020January 2023Allow2710NoNo
16949414AERIAL VEHICLE WITH DIFFERENTIAL CONTROL MECHANISMSOctober 2020June 2024Allow4321YesNo
17079085DRONE LANDING GROUND STATION WITH MAGNETIC FIELDSOctober 2020September 2023Allow3520NoNo
17077430SPACE DIVIDER OF A MILKING PARLOR ARRANGEMENT, AND MILKING PARLOR ARRANGEMENTOctober 2020October 2023Allow3612YesNo
17067770AMPHIBIOUS DRONE WITH DETACHABLE BUOYSOctober 2020June 2023Allow3220NoNo
17065563Apparatus with Variable Pitch and Continuous Tilt for Rotors on an Unmanned Fixed Wing AircraftOctober 2020June 2023Allow3310NoNo
17045338METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DEPLOYING DEORBIT SAILOctober 2020September 2024Allow4840NoNo
17021046Space Vehicle SystemSeptember 2020April 2023Abandon3110NoNo
17019323SHOCK ABSORBING FOOT PIECE FOR SMALL APPARATUSSeptember 2020April 2023Abandon3110NoNo
17001202APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING WEAR TOLERANCE OF DESIRABLE GRASSES AND FOR CONTROLLING WEEDSAugust 2020March 2023Allow3020NoNo
16898061Vehicle with Surface Array of Transducers Controlling DragJune 2020June 2022Allow2421YesNo
16895484SENSING MAT FOR AN ANIMAL TREATMENT SYSTEMJune 2020April 2021Abandon1010NoNo
16874257SPACECRAFT SOLAR ARRAY BIASING AND TENSIONING SYSTEMMay 2020December 2023Allow4320NoNo
15930281SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IN-FLIGHT RECOVERY OF A TARGET AIRCRAFT BY A HOST AIRCRAFT DURING FOWARD FLIGHTMay 2020March 2023Allow3410YesNo
16868303AIRSHIP AND METHOD OF USEMay 2020February 2023Abandon3310NoNo
16761170HINGED BLIMPMay 2020April 2023Abandon3601NoNo
16844938ENCAPSULATED INSULATION WITH UNIFORMLY HEATED SURFACES FOR USE ON SPACECRAFT INTERNAL SURFACESApril 2020July 2023Allow3911NoNo
16649988UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE WITH PACKAGE CARRIERMarch 2020February 2023Allow3410YesNo
16787115METHODS FOR FORMING LIQUID FLOW PATHS ON A SURFACE OF A STRUCTUREFebruary 2020February 2025Allow6020YesYes
16751985System and Method for Commercially Growing MushroomsJanuary 2020January 2021Allow1110YesNo
16718420GUIDANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GUIDING PROJECTILESDecember 2019March 2021Allow1520NoNo
16693765STACKABLE PANCAKE SATELLITENovember 2019September 2020Allow1010NoNo
16689864PERCHING UAV WITH RELEASABLE CRAWLERNovember 2019August 2022Allow3310YesNo
16609266TREEFALL PREVENTION TOOL AND TREEFALL PREVENTING METHODOctober 2019October 2021Abandon2420NoNo
16608338CAP ASSEMBLY FOR MUSHROOM CULTIVATION BOTTLEOctober 2019March 2022Allow2920YesNo
16660576HYBRID FLIGHT VEHICLE USING ENGINE GYRO EFFECT FOR STABILIZATIONOctober 2019January 2023Allow3910YesNo
16655196Quiet Redundant RotorcraftOctober 2019February 2022Abandon2810NoNo
16596140FLYING DEVICEOctober 2019July 2022Abandon3410NoNo
16499616ARRANGEMENT OF INDIVIDUAL SEATS FOR PASSENGERS OF AN AEROPLANE EQUIPPED WITH SCREEN SUPPORTS FORMING A SEPARATING WALLSeptember 2019June 2022Allow3310NoNo
16498528SEAT UNIT AND LOWER STRUCTURE THEREOFSeptember 2019June 2023Allow4530YesNo
16579174METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING TRANSITION LIFT-FAN PERFORMANCESeptember 2019May 2020Allow710NoNo
16577724AIRCRAFT SYSTEM WITH INTERCHANGEABLE DRIVE MODULE UNITSSeptember 2019December 2022Abandon3910NoNo
16560644SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS RELATED TO AIRCRAFT CABIN MODULE STRUCTURES AND TRANSPORTSeptember 2019March 2022Abandon3101NoNo
16550474BEE FEEDER HAVING LABYRINTHINE PASSAGESAugust 2019June 2021Allow2210YesNo
16486692PARACHUTE SYSTEM, SAFETY PROTECTION METHOD AND DEVICE OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLEAugust 2019March 2023Abandon4320NoNo
16542615AQUACULTURE SYSTEM AND PRODUCING METHOD FOR AQUATIC ORGANISMSAugust 2019September 2024Abandon6040NoYes
16522764Plant Assembly, a Container, an Area of Ground, a Breeding System, a Rooted Plant Assembly, a Substrate and MethodsJuly 2019December 2023Abandon5340NoNo
16522032TETHERED AERIAL VEHICLE WITH GIMBALED COAXIAL PROPELLERSJuly 2019July 2022Allow3610YesNo
16460437AIRCRAFTJuly 2019July 2022Abandon3620NoNo
16430058SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DEPLOYING A SPACECRAFT ARRANGEMENTJune 2019November 2019Allow610YesNo
16429019MOBILE EMERGENCY LANDING PADJune 2019July 2020Allow1420YesNo
16465910SYSTEM INCLUDING A DRONE, A WIRE, AND A DOCKING STATION, ENABLING AUTONOMOUS LANDINGS OF THE DRONES IN DEGRADED CONDITIONSMay 2019January 2023Allow4420YesNo
16465055SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DOCKING AN AEROSTAT, AND AEROSTAT AND RECEIVING STRUCTURES EQUIPPED FOR SUCH A PURPOSEMay 2019November 2022Allow4120NoNo
16348532LARGE PAYLOAD UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLEMay 2019November 2022Abandon4210NoNo
16406867VORTEX REDUCTION APPARATUS FOR USE WITH AIRFOILSMay 2019May 2022Allow3720NoNo
16398222Vertical Takeoff and Landing SystemApril 2019March 2023Abandon4740NoNo
16398106ELECTRICALLY-POWERED SWIVELING TAIL ROTOR SYSTEMSApril 2019December 2022Abandon4440YesNo
16397033SENSING MAT FOR AN ANIMAL TREATMENT SYSTEMApril 2019May 2021Abandon2510NoNo
16324539TRANSPORT METHOD, TRANSPORT SHIP, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING TRANSPORT SHIP, LANDER, NAVIGATION METHOD, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING COMPONENT OF LANDER, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING LANDER, LANDING METHOD, MONITORING METHOD AND FUEL SUPPLY METHODApril 2019May 2024Abandon6041NoNo
16392726AIRCRAFT LANDING GEAR NOISE REDUCTION FAIRINGApril 2019April 2022Allow3620YesNo
16389686AIRCRAFT NACELLE HAVING ELECTRIC MOTOR AND THRUST REVERSING AIR EXHAUST FLAPSApril 2019August 2022Allow4011NoNo
16341402AIR, SEA AND UNDERWATER TILT TRI-ROTOR UAV CAPABLE OF PERFORMING VERTICAL TAKE-OFF AND LANDINGApril 2019January 2022Allow3420YesNo
16378609HEAT RADIATOR INCLUDING HEAT RADIATING ACCELERATION PARTS WITH CONCAVE AND CONVEX PORTIONS FOR AN AIRCRAFTApril 2019March 2021Allow2430YesNo
16378707AIRCRAFT PASSENGER SEATING UNIT AND PASSENGER SEATING ARRANGEMENTApril 2019April 2021Allow2540NoNo
16376742WALL SCALING UNMANNED AIRCRAFT AND METHOD OF CONTROLLINGApril 2019February 2023Allow4630NoNo
16373186FLOOR FIXING ASSEMBLY AND SEAT FIXING SYSTEM, SEAT AND AIRCRAFT WITH A FLOOR FIXING ASSEMBLYApril 2019September 2022Abandon4120NoNo
16372546CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AN AIRCRAFTApril 2019October 2024Abandon6041YesNo
16370660SPACECRAFT WITH INCREASED CARGO CAPACITIES, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODSMarch 2019December 2022Allow4510YesNo
16361322TRIMMABLE TAIL KIT RUDDERMarch 2019June 2021Allow2711NoNo
16359342Piezoelectric Thrust Vector Control for Dual-Mode Unmanned Aerial VehicleMarch 2019June 2022Allow3911NoNo
16356664APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR INDOOR GROWTHMarch 2019June 2022Abandon3901NoNo
16351971SLEWING MECHANICAL POWER TRANSMISSIONS FOR ROTORCRAFTMarch 2019August 2021Allow2920YesNo
16299300SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING A LOW-THRUST TRAJECTORY OF A SPACECRAFT TRAJECTORYMarch 2019June 2023Allow5130NoNo
16294349HYBRID ROTOR PROPULSION FOR ROTOR AIRCRAFTMarch 2019March 2023Abandon4840YesNo
16293257DOUBLE WING AIRCRAFT AND METHOD OF USEMarch 2019May 2022Allow3820YesNo
16291613LEG UNDERCARRIAGE SYSTEM FOR JUMPING AIRCRAFTMarch 2019November 2021Abandon3311NoNo
16290924Hydroponics processes with high growth ratesMarch 2019January 2020Allow1020NoNo
16290797Tail Rotor Gearbox Support Assemblies for HelicoptersMarch 2019May 2021Allow2610YesNo
16330059UNIT FOR INTERCEPTING AND CAPTURING CRAWLING INSECTS AND ALIKE AND FOR MONITORING THEIR PRESENCEMarch 2019August 2022Abandon4221NoNo
16289393RUNWAY ARRANGEMENT FOR SIMULTANEOUS LANDING AND TAKE OFFFebruary 2019April 2021Abandon2510NoNo
16283397SPACECRAFT MULTIFUNCTION CONNECTING MECHANISMS INCLUDING INTERCHANGEABLE PORT OPENING DOCKING MECHANISMS, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODSFebruary 2019October 2022Allow4411YesNo
16280476Home Station for Unmanned Aerial VehicleFebruary 2019February 2020Allow1210NoNo
16280857ATMOSPHERIC THRUST STAGES, MULTI-STAGE LAUNCH SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE SAME, AND RELATED METHODSFebruary 2019June 2022Abandon4010NoNo
16326685DEVICE FOR FLYING WATER-SKIFebruary 2019September 2021Abandon3110NoNo
16277504TAIL ROTOR CYCLIC CONTROL FOR PITCH ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENTFebruary 2019July 2021Allow2910NoNo
16276587UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE SYSTEM WITH TEMPERATURE CONTROL EQUIPMENTFebruary 2019January 2023Allow4710NoNo
16268998SEAT EXTENSION WITH MODULAR LENGTH, UNIT COMPRISING A SEAT EXTENSION AND PASSENGER CABINFebruary 2019December 2022Allow4630NoNo
16269521ROTARY AIRCRAFT WITH HORIZONTAL WINGS AND A CENTER ROTOR AND METHOD OF USEFebruary 2019November 2020Abandon2140NoNo
16263924SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WETTING SEED IN A GROW POD SYSTEMJanuary 2019July 2022Abandon4101NoNo
16262202FISHING LURE ORNAMENTATIONJanuary 2019July 2019Allow610YesNo
16247817Modal Tailboom Flight Control Systems for Compound HelicoptersJanuary 2019January 2021Allow2410NoNo
16239957OPERATING AN AIRCRAFT WITH IMPROVED AILERON AND LANDING FUNCTIONJanuary 2019September 2019Allow910YesNo
16233484GUIDED PROJECTILE AND METHOD FOR GUIDING PROJECTILESDecember 2018September 2019Allow910NoNo
16230217Apparatus, System and Method for Mechanical, Selective Weed Control in Mature and Establishing Crops Including TurfgrassesDecember 2018May 2020Allow1720NoNo
16312075KITE CONTROL BAR STOPPER FOR A SLEEVED LINEDecember 2018August 2021Allow3110NoNo
16226292Deployment System for an Airfoil High Lift Leading Edge DeviceDecember 2018June 2023Allow5421YesNo
16311328TEMPERATURE MONITORING UNIT FOR AIRCRAFT WING STRUCTURE AND ASSOCIATED INSTALLATION METHODDecember 2018June 2022Allow4210NoNo
16223544Aquatic Plant Growing EquipmentDecember 2018February 2022Abandon3810NoNo
16310540HYDROPONIC CULTIVATION SYSTEM COMPRISING SEEDBEDS AND A TRANSPORT MECHANISMDecember 2018February 2021Allow2610NoNo
16178582SACHET FOR ORGANIC FERTILIZER IN POWDERDecember 2018February 2021Abandon2710NoNo
16219011FLOW BODY FOR A VEHICLE WITH A COMPRESSIBLE SKINDecember 2018July 2022Allow4320YesNo
16309232APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING CONDITIONS IN A PLANT CULTIVATION FACILITYDecember 2018November 2022Allow4740NoNo
16216423ENVIRONMENTAL MICROCLIMATE GROWTH CHAMBER AND METHODDecember 2018August 2021Abandon3210NoNo
16205121BUSINESS CLASS SEATS FOR A PASSENGER VEHICLENovember 2018February 2023Allow5141YesNo
16201419HOLLOW FASTENER FOR COUPLING AEROSPACE STRUCTURESNovember 2018January 2022Allow3810YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner FABULA, MICHAEL A.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
16
Examiner Affirmed
12
(75.0%)
Examiner Reversed
4
(25.0%)
Reversal Percentile
41.5%
Lower than average

What This Means

With a 25.0% reversal rate, the PTAB affirms the examiner's rejections in the vast majority 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
27
Allowed After Appeal Filing
5
(18.5%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
22
(81.5%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
23.9%
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, 18.5% 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 FABULA, MICHAEL A - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner FABULA, MICHAEL A works in Art Unit 3647 and has examined 448 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 65.6%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 35 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner FABULA, MICHAEL A's allowance rate of 65.6% places them in the 28% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by FABULA, MICHAEL A receive 1.98 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 45% 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 FABULA, MICHAEL A is 35 months. This places the examiner in the 41% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly slower than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +43.2% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by FABULA, MICHAEL A. This interview benefit is in the 88% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews are highly effective with this examiner and should be strongly considered as a prosecution strategy. Per MPEP § 713.10, interviews are available at any time before the Notice of Allowance is mailed or jurisdiction transfers to the PTAB.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 21.8% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 29% 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 36.4% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 56% 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 18% 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 44.8% of appeals filed. This is in the 12% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 23.1% 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, 82.5% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 85% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions are frequently granted regarding this examiner's actions compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 1002.02(c), various examiner actions are petitionable to the Technology Center Director, including prematureness of final rejection, refusal to enter amendments, and requirement for information. If you believe an examiner action is improper, consider filing a petition.

Examiner Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 0.7% of allowed cases (in the 62% 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 2.7% of allowed cases (in the 74% percentile). This examiner issues Quayle actions more often than average when claims are allowable but formal matters remain (MPEP § 714.14).

Prosecution Strategy Recommendations

Based on the statistical analysis of this examiner's prosecution patterns, here are tailored strategic recommendations:

  • Prioritize examiner interviews: Interviews are highly effective with this examiner. Request an interview after the first office action to clarify issues and potentially expedite allowance.

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.