USPTO Examiner MCCULLOUGH MICHAEL C - Art Unit 3653

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18797213Stand for Concealing a Person and Supporting a Target ApparatusAugust 2024May 2025Abandon910NoNo
18665593SHEET STACKER AND PRINTING APPARATUSMay 2024October 2025Allow1710NoNo
18662082SHEET FEEDING DEVICE THAT SEQUENTIALLY DRAWS OUT AND FEEDS SHEETS FROM SHEET TRAY, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING SAMEMay 2024October 2025Allow1810NoNo
18706747GLAZED DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE DOOR, COMPRISING A FLUSH-FITTED MOVABLE PANEL, AND CORRESPONDING DOORMay 2024June 2025Allow1310NoNo
18706393GLAZED DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE DOOR, COMPRISING A FLUSH-FITTED MOVABLE PANEL, AND CORRESPONDING DOORMay 2024June 2025Allow1410NoNo
18589111MEDIUM CONVEYING APPARATUSFebruary 2024June 2025Allow1600NoNo
18438241MEDIUM EJECTION DEVICE AND IMAGE READING DEVICEFebruary 2024May 2025Allow1600NoNo
18435435MEDIUM TRANSPORT DEVICE AND IMAGE READING APPARATUSFebruary 2024February 2026Allow2420NoNo
18429486SHEET FEEDERFebruary 2024November 2025Allow2210NoNo
18291955Hopper for collecting and dispensing discrete medicaments, outlet valve, dispensing device comprising said hopper and methodJanuary 2024March 2026Allow2610YesNo
18303086POLYURETHANE COATINGS WITH HIGH SOLAR REFLECTANCEApril 2023August 2025Allow2810YesNo
18134699MODULAR SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR PLUMBING CONNECTIONSApril 2023June 2025Allow2610NoNo
17700712MULTI-DIMENSIONAL LOAD STRUCTUREMarch 2022March 2025Allow3610YesNo
17531763ADVANCED WAREHOUSE AND LOGISTIC SYSTEMS USING AUTONOMOUS MOBILE LIFT ROBOTSNovember 2021November 2025Allow4710NoNo
17002587WAFER ALIGNERAugust 2020August 2022Abandon2420NoNo
16701509SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS, IMAGE READING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSDecember 2019October 2021Allow2200NoNo
16667105MEDIUM CONVEYING APPARATUS FOR CORRECTING A SKEW OF A MEDIUM USING THREE SENSORSOctober 2019September 2021Allow2300NoNo
16567702IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSSeptember 2019June 2021Allow2100NoNo
16513898Masonry ToolJuly 2019August 2021Allow2510YesNo
16512269Bidirectional Wedge ClampJuly 2019October 2021Allow2710NoNo
16501870Apparatus And System For Safe Manipulation And Removal Of Highway GuardrailJune 2019July 2021Allow2510YesNo
16411114PORTABLE MULTI-FUNCTION HERB GRINDERMay 2019July 2021Allow2610NoNo
16257002Console Gear-Shift Spill Guard for Car, Automobile, Truck, and Other VehiclesJanuary 2019September 2021Allow3120YesNo
16305727IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSNovember 2018September 2021Allow3310NoNo
15895362Smart Wireless Thermo-Sensing DeviceFebruary 2018August 2021Allow4241YesNo
15495516ENDLESS BELT FLEXIBLE TUBE CLEANING LANCE DRIVE APPARATUSApril 2017October 2017Allow600NoNo
15486066SHEET MATERIAL FEEDING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSApril 2017November 2017Allow700NoNo
15485477SHEET LOADING DEVICEApril 2017December 2017Allow800NoNo
15483277SHEET FEEDER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SHEET FEEDERApril 2017November 2017Allow710NoNo
15448835SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSMarch 2017November 2017Allow900NoNo
15441477Sheet Conveying ApparatusFebruary 2017November 2017Allow810NoNo
15504580ROTARY PAPER MONEY CONVEYING DEVICEFebruary 2017June 2017Allow400NoNo
15353937SHEET MANUFACTURING APPARATUSNovember 2016October 2017Allow1110NoNo
15207429SHEET MATERIAL FEEDING APPARATUSJuly 2016November 2017Allow1610NoNo
15136090SHEET CONVEYING DEVICE AND IMAGE READING APPARATUSApril 2016November 2017Allow1910NoNo
15131086DEVICES FOR GUIDING AND CONVEYING WIRE-SHAPED OR STRAND-SHAPED PRODUCTSApril 2016September 2017Allow1700NoNo
14916756TRANSPORT DEVICE FOR BAND AND/OR STRIP-SHAPED MATERIALMarch 2016December 2017Abandon2210NoNo
14914867FEEDERFebruary 2016October 2017Allow2010YesNo
14912539FEEDERFebruary 2016August 2017Allow1810NoNo
14968015PRINTERDecember 2015December 2017Allow2410YesNo
14966187RECORDING MEDIUM CONVEYING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCORPORATING SAMEDecember 2015September 2017Allow2110NoNo
14953247PAPER OUTPUTTING MECHANISMNovember 2015September 2017Allow2210NoNo
14939145DEVICE FOR DECURLING A WEB OF MATERIAL, SUCH AS A PAPER WEBNovember 2015December 2017Allow2520YesNo
14772815TRANSFER PATH ALTERING DEVICESeptember 2015December 2017Allow2810NoNo
14766792FESTOON DEVICEAugust 2015November 2017Allow2720NoNo
14792002IMAGE RECORDING DEVICEJuly 2015July 2017Allow2410NoNo
14653322STATIC REDUCTION ROLLER AND METHOD FOR REDUCING STATIC ON A WEBJune 2015October 2017Allow2810NoNo
14648756STEEL-SHEET SNAKING PREVENTING DEVICE AND STEEL-SHEET SNAKING PREVENTING METHOD FOR VERTICAL LOOPERJune 2015September 2017Allow2820NoNo
14647548TAPE FEEDERMay 2015January 2017Allow2010YesNo
14716897DOCUMENT CONVEYANCE APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSMay 2015August 2017Allow2720NoNo
14712463IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSMay 2015February 2017Allow2110NoNo
14442705CASSETTE FOR STORING SHEET MEDIAMay 2015September 2017Abandon2820NoNo
14707107SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSMay 2015December 2016Allow1910NoNo
14440806DEVICE FOR GUIDING FIBRE TOWS THROUGH OXIDATION FURNACESMay 2015June 2017Allow2520NoNo
14693259FLEXIBLE TUBE CLEANING LANCE DRIVE APPARATUSApril 2015February 2017Allow2220NoNo
14693187IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSApril 2015May 2017Allow2520NoNo
14671402APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING A COIL CLAD HOSEMarch 2015November 2016Allow2020YesNo
14670797Image Reader and Sheet Feeding DeviceMarch 2015April 2016Allow1300NoNo
14670147IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUSMarch 2015November 2016Allow2010NoNo
14667957STACKING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSMarch 2015August 2016Allow1710NoNo
14663397RECORDING SHEET STACKING TRAYMarch 2015December 2015Allow810NoNo
14643157CASH CASSETTE COMPRISING A PRESS-ON UNIT HAVING AN ELASTIC SNAP-IN ELEMENTMarch 2015February 2016Allow1110YesNo
14426465COMPENSATING DEVICE FOR FLUCTUATING CONVEYING SPEEDS OF A FIBROUS NONWOVENMarch 2015December 2016Allow2110NoNo
14635092SHEET MANUFACTURING APPARATUSMarch 2015February 2017Allow2320NoNo
14626627SHEET CONVEYING DEVICE AND IMAGE READING APPARATUSFebruary 2015January 2016Allow1110NoNo
14421242ADAPTABLE WEB SPREADING DEVICEFebruary 2015April 2017Allow3620NoNo
14420021CARRIER TAPE FEEDER FOR CHIP MOUNTERFebruary 2015October 2016Allow2010NoNo
14612967RECORDING MATERIAL DISCHARGE DEVICE AND RECORDING MATERIAL PROCESSING DEVICE USING THE SAMEFebruary 2015June 2017Abandon2840NoNo
14417351TAPE FEEDER AND TAPE FEEDING METHODJanuary 2015August 2016Allow1910NoNo
14415877Manufacturing system for processing a webJanuary 2015September 2016Allow2010NoNo
14415019TAPE FEEDER AND TAPE SETTING METHODJanuary 2015September 2017Allow3230NoNo
14587495CABLE TRANSPORT DEVICEDecember 2014August 2016Allow1910NoNo
14585577SHEET STACKING APPARATUS, SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSDecember 2014November 2015Allow1110NoNo
14408694TAPE FEEDER AND TAPE FEEDER CABINETDecember 2014July 2016Allow1910NoNo
14568770TRANSPORT APPARATUS AND RECORDING APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH THE SAMEDecember 2014November 2015Allow1110NoNo
14555127SHEET DISCHARGE APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSNovember 2014September 2016Allow2220NoNo
14552906TAPE FEEDER, COMPONENT MOUNTING APPARATUS AND COMPONENT FEEDING METHODNovember 2014January 2017Allow2511NoNo
14403342SUCTION ROLL DEVICENovember 2014April 2017Allow2840NoNo
14403205LOOP AMOUNT ABSORPTION APPARATUS OF SLITTER LINENovember 2014November 2017Allow3610NoNo
14542838PACKAGING MACHINE AND PROCESSNovember 2014November 2016Allow2420NoNo
14536736IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSNovember 2014November 2015Allow1210NoNo
14536725INK-JET PRINTERNovember 2014November 2015Allow1210NoNo
14529437SHEET PICKUP APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAMEOctober 2014October 2015Allow1110NoNo
14529053METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SYNCHRONIZING ITEMS USING POSITION COMPENSATIONOctober 2014October 2016Allow2420NoNo
14525507IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSOctober 2014September 2015Allow1110NoNo
14519545SHEET TRANSPORT DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSOctober 2014November 2015Allow1310NoNo
14513678SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSOctober 2014July 2015Allow920NoNo
14511736OUTPUT ASSEMBLY FOR RECEIVING A SHEET OUTPUT BY A PRINTING DEVICEOctober 2014November 2015Allow1310NoNo
14508633FEEDING DEVICEOctober 2014July 2016Allow2110NoNo
14504236COUPLING DEVICE, SHEET CONVEYANCE DEVICE, AND DRIVING FORCE TRANSMITTING DEVICEOctober 2014December 2016Allow2630NoNo
14389241SUPPORT DEVICE FOR AN ELONGATE ARTICLESeptember 2014July 2017Allow3330YesNo
14496307SHEET SIZE SETTING DEVICE, AND SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAMESeptember 2014February 2015Allow500NoNo
14497217CONVEYING ROLLER UNIT, SHEET CONVEYING DEVICE, AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUSSeptember 2014May 2015Allow800NoNo
14496686Image Reading DeviceSeptember 2014September 2015Allow1110NoNo
14493812Apparatus and Method for Transport of Balancing WeightsSeptember 2014August 2017Allow3440YesNo
14491087SHEET SUPPLY DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSSeptember 2014May 2015Allow810NoNo
14490038PRINTING MEDIUM SUPPLY DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAMESeptember 2014August 2015Allow1110YesNo
14238177SUBSTRATE ROLLERSSeptember 2014July 2016Abandon3010NoNo
14486087MEDIUM TRANSPORTING DEVICE AND RECORDING APPARATUSSeptember 2014May 2015Allow810YesNo
14483496SHEET CONVEYING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSSeptember 2014July 2015Allow1010NoNo

Appeals Overview

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

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
8
Examiner Affirmed
5
(62.5%)
Examiner Reversed
3
(37.5%)
Reversal Percentile
59.2%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 37.5% 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.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
41
Allowed After Appeal Filing
10
(24.4%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
31
(75.6%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
33.1%
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, 24.4% 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 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 MCCULLOUGH, MICHAEL C - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner MCCULLOUGH, MICHAEL C works in Art Unit 3653 and has examined 708 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 83.1%, this examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 27 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner MCCULLOUGH, MICHAEL C's allowance rate of 83.1% places them in the 57% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by MCCULLOUGH, MICHAEL C receive 1.81 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 MCCULLOUGH, MICHAEL C is 27 months. This places the examiner in the 74% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +1.4% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by MCCULLOUGH, MICHAEL C. This interview benefit is in the 20% 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, 31.6% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 65% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show above-average effectiveness with this examiner. Consider whether your amendments or new arguments are strong enough to warrant an RCE versus filing a continuation.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 39.3% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 60% 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, 40.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 38% percentile among all examiners. Note: Pre-appeal conferences show below-average success with this examiner. Consider whether your arguments are strong enough to warrant a PAC request.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 77.1% of appeals filed. This is in the 69% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 44.4% 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, 65.9% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 71% 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 13.0% of allowed cases (in the 96% 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 0.3% of allowed cases (in the 53% 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:

  • 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.