USPTO Examiner KRUG RANDELL J - Art Unit 3658

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
17138805MEDICAL DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING SURGICAL TOOLSDecember 2020May 2023Allow2800NoNo
17134147HIP JOINT MECHANISM AND HUMANOID ROBOTDecember 2020February 2024Allow3820NoNo
17128487ROBOT ARM DRIVE MODULEDecember 2020September 2022Allow2101NoNo
17251861REDUCTION UNIT, ARM JOINT PROVIDED WITH TWO OR THREE REDUCTION UNITS RESPECTIVELY, AND A ROBOT ARMDecember 2020February 2023Allow2612NoNo
17251456ELECTRIC ACTUATORDecember 2020April 2022Allow1610NoNo
17117491ROBOT WIRING ADDITIONAL ROUTING METHOD AND ROBOTDecember 2020February 2022Allow1410YesNo
16973590ELECTRIC ACTUATORDecember 2020May 2022Allow1720NoNo
17113668LINK ACTUATING DEVICEDecember 2020April 2022Allow1601NoNo
17107149Locking Compound Rotary ActuatorNovember 2020August 2022Allow2011NoNo
17104664PASSIVE JOINT DEVICE, CABLE GUIDE, AND POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISMNovember 2020September 2023Allow3411YesNo
17087544Clutched Joint Modules Having a Quasi-Passive Elastic Actuator for a Robotic AssemblyNovember 2020May 2023Allow3001NoNo
17081348ROBOT DRIVING DEVICEOctober 2020June 2022Allow2000NoNo
17081143ROBOT UNITOctober 2020October 2022Allow2410YesNo
17077235ROBOT ARM DRIVING UNITOctober 2020August 2022Allow2220NoNo
17075843BALL SCREW NUT, TURNING UNIT, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING BALL SCREW NUTOctober 2020October 2022Allow2410NoNo
17038444ROTARY AXIS MODULE AND ROBOTSeptember 2020December 2022Allow2601NoNo
17039981ADJUSTABLE FORCE AND BALL BEARING ATTACHMENT MECHANISM FOR DOCKING CANNULAS TO SURGICAL ROBOTIC ARMSSeptember 2020June 2023Allow3300NoNo
17035231ROBOT JOINT MEMBER, DYNAMIC JOINT AND ROBOT WITH HEAT DISSIPATION STRUCTURESeptember 2020January 2023Allow2700YesNo
17034317Mobile RobotSeptember 2020February 2024Abandon4141NoNo
17007080DRIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT ARMSAugust 2020October 2022Allow2620YesYes
17003504SEGMENTED SPRING FOR A BALL SCREWAugust 2020September 2022Allow2531NoNo
16999956ROBOTAugust 2020September 2022Allow2521NoNo
16983643SELF-ERECTING THREADED SPINDLE MODULE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE BRAKEAugust 2020March 2022Allow2010YesNo
16931795SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ABATEMENT OF GEAR RATTLE BY LINEAR DEFLECTIONJuly 2020February 2022Allow1911NoNo
16960983LINEAR ACTUATORJuly 2020April 2022Allow2110NoNo
16912744RobotJune 2020May 2022Allow2311NoNo
16946428INSTRUMENT INSERTION CARRIAGE FOR ROBOTIC SURGICAL TOOLSJune 2020October 2023Allow4021YesNo
16902205MECHANICAL�ARMJune 2020April 2023Allow3421NoNo
16770940WAIST IMITATING DEVICE OF ROBOTIC RAT BASED ON MULTIPLE-CONNECTING-ROD TRANSMISSIONJune 2020October 2021Allow1600NoNo
16764471BALL SCREW SPLINEMay 2020November 2020Allow600YesNo
16875454ROBOT ARM WITH MODULAR CONSTRUCTIONMay 2020July 2023Abandon3841YesYes
16874323Linear Actuator with Everted Ball Screw DriveMay 2020May 2021Allow1210NoNo
16763396DEVICES TO ENHANCE ROBOTIC ARM TASKSMay 2020July 2023Allow3811NoNo
16860593Robotic Arm System with Gear-Driven End-Effector AssemblyApril 2020May 2021Allow1300NoNo
16758169MODULAR ROBOTIC STRUCTUREApril 2020October 2022Allow3011NoNo
16846056SHIFT CONTROL APPARATUS FOR ELECTRONIC SHIFT SYSTEMApril 2020May 2022Abandon2520NoNo
16845342MOTOR STOP FOR A THROUGH-FRAME SLIDE OUT SYSTEMApril 2020July 2022Allow2720YesNo
16841263ROBOTApril 2020May 2022Allow2521NoNo
16838027JIG SUPPORTING REDUCTION GEAR OF ROBOT AND METHOD OF REPLACING REDUCTION GEAR USING JIGApril 2020February 2023Allow3521YesNo
16838152SPHERICAL ROBOT INCLUDING RING MEMBERApril 2020July 2022Allow2810NoNo
16652316Steering Gear and Method for Mounting a Steering Gear for a Motor VehicleMarch 2020February 2023Abandon3420NoNo
16833907RACK BAR AND STEERING APPARATUSMarch 2020July 2023Allow3940YesNo
16651441MAGNETIC BIASING ASSEMBLYMarch 2020November 2023Abandon4410NoNo
16832690TACTILE PERCEPTION APPARATUS FOR ROBOTIC SYSTEMSMarch 2020January 2023Allow3411NoNo
16827872GRIPPING MECHANISM AND ASSEMBLY APPARATUSMarch 2020January 2023Allow3410NoNo
16649718SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING AN AUTONOMOUS MOBILE ROBOTMarch 2020October 2023Allow4321YesNo
16648355THREADED NUT OF A BALL SCREW DRIVEMarch 2020December 2021Allow2111YesNo
16806740CASTER MODULE AND ROBOTMarch 2020July 2022Allow2910NoNo
16804613ROBOTFebruary 2020September 2022Allow3110NoNo
16643299LINEAR MODULE AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOFFebruary 2020February 2022Allow2410YesNo
16790847ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING ROLLING ELEMENT BETWEEN SPHERICAL HOUSING AND INTERNAL DRIVING DEVICEFebruary 2020October 2022Allow3220NoNo
16787257TURNING DEVICEFebruary 2020November 2022Allow3311YesNo
16784590ROBOTFebruary 2020July 2023Abandon4110NoNo
16745444Collapsible, Multiple Axis Cartesian RobotJanuary 2020March 2022Allow2600YesNo
16733062MOVABLE ROBOTJanuary 2020July 2022Allow3111NoNo
16628124PORTER MODULE AND ROBOT HAVING THE SAMEJanuary 2020February 2023Allow3710NoNo
16728385WORKING ROBOTDecember 2019June 2022Allow3010NoNo
16718348ROBOTDecember 2019December 2021Allow2400NoNo
16701102LINEAR-TO-ROTARY ACTUATORDecember 2019March 2020Allow300YesNo
16612301CONTROL DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED PRODUCTION METHODNovember 2019April 2021Allow1710YesNo
16673082METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING DUAL AXES MOTIONS USING A SINGLE DRIVENovember 2019February 2023Allow4001YesNo
16607477SERVO CYLINDEROctober 2019February 2022Allow2810NoNo
16603608METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING A DRUM AND A SPRING BRAKE FOR AN ELECTROMECHANICAL ACTUATOR, ASSOCIATED ELECTROMECHANICAL ACTUATOR AND HOME AUTOMATION INSTALLATIONOctober 2019June 2021Allow2020NoNo
16603038DRIVE DEVICE FOR A MOVABLE TAPPETOctober 2019February 2023Allow4140YesNo
16582764TOOL CHANGER AND TOOL CHANGE SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAMESeptember 2019February 2023Allow4011YesNo
16582377STEERING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING STEERING SYSTEMSeptember 2019August 2022Allow3510NoNo
16571584ROBOT UNITSeptember 2019December 2022Abandon3921YesNo
16570099ROBOTIC ARM WITH QUICK-CONNECT CLAMPING SYSTEM AND DOCKING CRADLESeptember 2019February 2023Allow4130NoNo
16491646ROBOTSeptember 2019November 2022Abandon3820NoNo
16560262METHOD FOR ENGAGING TWO GEAR ELEMENTS AND DRIVING DEVICE IMPLEMENTING SUCH A METHODSeptember 2019September 2021Allow2410NoNo
16554992POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICEAugust 2019October 2021Allow2610NoNo
16554872GEARSHIFT LEVER DEVICEAugust 2019September 2021Allow2520NoNo
16488378SCREW DEVICEAugust 2019March 2021Allow1810NoNo
16549969JOINT COVER, ROBOT, AND PARALLEL LINK ROBOTAugust 2019August 2021Allow2310YesNo
16548432ROTATIONAL-FORCE TRANSMITTING PARTAugust 2019April 2021Allow2030YesNo
16540072Customizable joystick-based means for controlling the brake and throttle of a motor vehicle using a single handAugust 2019June 2022Abandon3420NoNo
16540120Device to Minimize Vibrations from a Motor Vehicle Transmission to a Gear Shift LeverAugust 2019August 2021Allow2420NoNo
16539867GUIDE ROBOTAugust 2019December 2021Allow2820YesNo
16484492STRAIN WAVE GEAR MECHANISM WITH AN INNER SEALAugust 2019June 2021Allow2210NoNo
16483642DEVICE FOR SEALING AN AIR INLET OF A MOTOR VEHICLE FRONT FACEAugust 2019November 2021Abandon2710NoNo
16524972ROBOTIC SYSTEM WITH HAPTIC CUTTING TOOLJuly 2019September 2020Allow1400NoNo
16521440STEERING LOCK DEVICEJuly 2019January 2023Allow4120NoNo
16520196STRAIN WAVE GEARING WITH INPUT TO OUTPUT BRAKINGJuly 2019March 2023Allow4311YesNo
16512832WORM DRIVE APPARATUS FOR RAILCARS AND METHOD OF USEJuly 2019August 2020Allow1300YesNo
16512732GEAR SHIFTING APPARATUS FOR MULTI-SPEED TRANSMISSION FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLESJuly 2019December 2021Allow2901NoNo
16509352System For Converting Rotational Momentum Into Versatile Linear PropulsionJuly 2019August 2022Allow3711NoNo
16506580AUTOMOTIVE TRANSMISSIONJuly 2019August 2021Allow2610NoNo
16503811ROBOTJuly 2019July 2022Allow3610NoNo
16460173CONTROL DEVICE FOR A BICYCLE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR A BICYCLE COMPRISING SUCH A CONTROL DEVICEJuly 2019September 2021Abandon2710NoNo
16475190POSITIONING UNITJuly 2019April 2022Allow3411YesNo
16458759TRANSFER DEVICEJuly 2019October 2021Allow2701YesNo
16458335DELAY UNIT FOR USE IN A STEERING WHEEL SYSTEM, AND A STEERING WHEEL SYSTEMJuly 2019June 2022Abandon3501NoNo
16095336METHOD FOR PRODUCING A ROBOT AND DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT SAID METHODJuly 2019December 2022Allow5020YesNo
16455873PLANAR SPRING AND ROTATING SERIES ELASTIC ACTUATORJune 2019March 2022Allow3211NoNo
16454232Modular robotic systemJune 2019April 2022Allow3311NoNo
16443132VEHICLE DRIVE APPARATUSJune 2019June 2022Abandon3610NoNo
16432175COVER FOR ROBOTS AND DETECTION SYSTEMJune 2019March 2023Allow4520NoNo
16424385SEVEN-DEGREES-OF-FREEDOM HUMANOID ROBOTIC ARMSMay 2019February 2022Allow3310NoNo
16464278WEAR COMPENSATION FOR SHAFTS SUPPORTED ON FRICTION BEARINGSMay 2019November 2021Abandon3010NoNo
16421602ACTUATOR, ESPECIALLY FOR USE IN A MOTOR VEHICLEMay 2019May 2020Allow1211YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner KRUG, RANDELL J.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
1
Examiner Affirmed
1
(100.0%)
Examiner Reversed
0
(0.0%)
Reversal Percentile
16.4%
Lower than average

What This Means

With a 0.0% 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
7
Allowed After Appeal Filing
3
(42.9%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
4
(57.1%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
71.2%
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, 42.9% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is above the USPTO average, suggesting that filing an appeal can be an effective strategy for prompting reconsideration.

Strategic Recommendations

Appeals to PTAB face challenges. Ensure your case has strong merit before committing to full Board review.

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

Examiner KRUG, RANDELL J - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner KRUG, RANDELL J works in Art Unit 3658 and has examined 331 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 71.0%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 31 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner KRUG, RANDELL J's allowance rate of 71.0% places them in the 35% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by KRUG, RANDELL J receive 1.79 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 37% 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 KRUG, RANDELL J is 31 months. This places the examiner in the 57% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +20.9% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by KRUG, RANDELL J. This interview benefit is in the 64% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide an above-average benefit with this examiner and are worth considering.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 21.7% 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 44.6% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 69% 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, 133.3% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 87% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: Pre-appeal conferences are highly effective with this examiner compared to others. Before filing a full appeal brief, strongly consider requesting a PAC. The PAC provides an opportunity for the examiner and supervisory personnel to reconsider the rejection before the case proceeds to the PTAB.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 83.3% of appeals filed. This is in the 77% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 60.0% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). Strategic Insight: This examiner frequently reconsiders rejections during the appeal process compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 1207.01, all appeals must go through a mandatory appeal conference. Filing a Notice of Appeal may prompt favorable reconsideration even before you file an Appeal Brief.

Petition Practice

When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 19.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 10% 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 Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 0.6% of allowed cases (in the 61% 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 3.4% of allowed cases (in the 77% 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:

  • Request pre-appeal conferences: PACs are highly effective with this examiner. Before filing a full appeal brief, request a PAC to potentially resolve issues without full PTAB review.
  • Appeal filing as negotiation tool: This examiner frequently reconsiders rejections during the appeal process. Filing a Notice of Appeal may prompt favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.

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.