USPTO Examiner HUTCHINS CATHLEEN R - Art Unit 3672

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19141342HYDROGEN SWELLABLE FILLERS FOR SURFACE AND UNDERGROUND FLUID ISOLATION BARRIERSJune 2025March 2026Allow910YesNo
18954885FORMATION TESTER STRESS TESTING WITH DRILL PIPE SUPPLIED ACID AND/OR PROPPANT INJECTIONNovember 2024November 2025Allow1110YesNo
18933220SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ANCHORING A SUB-SURFACE COMPLETION UNIT IN A WELLBOREOctober 2024February 2026Allow1620YesNo
18929020ROD GUIDE CONFIGURATIONS FOR SUCKER ROD PUMPSOctober 2024October 2025Allow1210YesNo
18924704High Flow Insert Safety Valve That Is Well Pressure InsensitiveOctober 2024September 2025Allow1110YesNo
18858450WHIPSTOCK ASSEMBLY AND ASSOCIATED METHOD OF INSTALLING THE WHIPSTOCK ASSEMBLYOctober 2024December 2025Allow1410NoNo
18853752FLOATING VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR DRILL PIPESOctober 2024October 2025Allow1210YesNo
18897136MULTILATERAL MILLING ASSEMBLY EMPLOYING DEGRADABLE MATERIALSeptember 2024February 2026Allow1710NoNo
18898083TWO PART MILLING AND RUNNING TOOL EMPLOYING A BODY LOCK RINGSeptember 2024January 2026Allow1610NoNo
18897179MULTILATERAL WHIPSTOCK ASSEMBLY EMPLOYING DEGRADABLE MATERIALSeptember 2024December 2025Allow1510YesNo
18838522METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CUTTING HYDRAULIC AND/OR ELECTRIC LINES IN THE ANNULAR SPACE OF A WELLAugust 2024July 2025Allow1210YesNo
18780943Fracking Plug with a Support RingJuly 2024August 2025Allow1310YesNo
18730470SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SINGLE TRIP GRAVEL PACKING IN OPEN HOLE BOREHOLEJuly 2024July 2025Allow1110YesNo
18727865METHOD OF INSTALLING A BISMUTH BRIDGE PLUGJuly 2024January 2026Abandon1810NoNo
18768964VALVE ACTUATION ASSEMBLY WITH A CABLE AND SHAFTJuly 2024September 2025Allow1410YesNo
18763640FREEING A DOWNHOLE SEAL IN A WELLBOREJuly 2024August 2025Allow1410NoNo
18754709ONE-PIECE CUTTING HEAD FOR A DRILL BITJune 2024October 2025Allow1610NoNo
18753067COUPLING MEMBER FOR USE WITH A CONNECTIONJune 2024November 2025Allow1710YesNo
18738189DRILLING TOOL HAVING PRE-FABRICATED COMPONENTSJune 2024February 2026Allow2020YesNo
18672627ENERGIZED SWABBING DEVICE FOR A SLICKLINE BASED WELL INITIATION SERVICE TOOLMay 2024August 2025Allow1510YesNo
18665384System and Method for Connecting Load Bearing ESP Power CableMay 2024September 2025Allow1610YesNo
18580623CUTTING TOOLJanuary 2024October 2024Allow810NoNo
18410766SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR UNTETHERED WELLBORE INVESTIGATION USING MODULAR AUTONOMOUS DEVICEJanuary 2024August 2025Allow1910NoNo
18402298Novel Wear-Resistant and Collision-Resistant Polycrystalline Diamond Compact (PDC) Drill Bit With Rostriform Teeth and Plurality of BladesJanuary 2024September 2024Allow810NoNo
18509815MODULAR PERFORATION TOOLNovember 2023June 2025Allow1910YesNo
18559167PRIMARY AND SECONDARY FILTERS FOR ENHANCED SAND CONTROLNovember 2023January 2026Abandon2720YesNo
18287884ORIENTABLE WEIGHT BAR FOR A DOWNHOLE TOOL AND METHOD OF USING SAMEOctober 2023July 2025Allow2110NoNo
18488732Maize Header For A Forage Harvester, And Forage Harvester Comprising Such A Maize HeaderOctober 2023March 2026Allow2810NoNo
18371196CUTTING INSERT ASSEMBLIES AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODSSeptember 2023August 2025Allow2310NoNo
18471883DOWNHOLE FLOW CONTROL VALVE FOR WELL SYSTEMSSeptember 2023September 2025Allow2410YesNo
18463476ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE PROPPANT AND METHODS FOR DETECTING, LOCATING AND CHARACTERIZING THE ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE PROPPANTSeptember 2023January 2026Allow2930NoNo
18462982Drill Bore Protection Device and MethodSeptember 2023November 2025Abandon2601NoNo
18241964DOWNHOLE MAGNET, DOWNHOLE MAGNETIC JETTING TOOL AND METHOD OF ATTACHMENT OF MAGNET PIECES TO THE TOOL BODYSeptember 2023July 2025Allow2310YesNo
18241423NESTED PIN DESIGN FOR COMMON PIVOTSeptember 2023March 2026Allow3010YesNo
18240872APPROACHES TO DRILLING FLUID VOLUME MANAGEMENTAugust 2023May 2025Allow2010YesNo
18233387UNLOAD TUBE LOCK FOR AGRICULTURAL VEHICLEAugust 2023February 2026Allow3010YesNo
18223638LIFT SYSTEM FOR BUBBLE UP AUGER OF COMBINE HARVESTERJuly 2023February 2026Allow3110NoNo
18349933Mower and outdoor work toolJuly 2023March 2026Allow3210YesNo
18348147ANCHOR SYSTEM AND METHODJuly 2023February 2025Allow1920YesNo
18328050DOWNHOLE MONITORING OF HYDRAULIC EQUIPMENTJune 2023June 2025Allow2510YesNo
18144891LINKAGE FOR CUTTERBAR OF HEADER FOR AGRICULTURAL VEHICLEMay 2023February 2026Allow3310NoNo
18251013Cleaning Systems for Combine Harvesters Having Airbags or Other Movable Side Members, and Related MethodsApril 2023February 2026Allow3410YesNo
18033357CUTTING TOOLApril 2023February 2024Allow1000YesNo
18301351Accumulator Cotton Compress AssemblyApril 2023January 2026Allow3310YesNo
18129248Rake Tongs AdapterMarch 2023January 2026Allow3310YesNo
18193093Agricultural BalerMarch 2023January 2026Allow3410NoNo
18126243Gas Pump SystemMarch 2023August 2023Allow510NoNo
18026595CUTTING TOOLMarch 2023January 2024Allow1000YesNo
18115305Single-Trip Deployment And Isolation Using A Ball ValveFebruary 2023May 2025Allow2711YesNo
18173939HYDRAULIC INDEXING SYSTEMFebruary 2023April 2025Allow2610YesNo
18010273CUTTING TOOL AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAMEDecember 2022January 2024Allow1311YesNo
18065930Systems and Methods for Downhole Service ToolsDecember 2022April 2025Allow2810YesNo
18001863THREADED CONNECTION FOR HAMMERING INTERCONNECTED TUBULAR MEMBERSDecember 2022July 2025Allow3200YesNo
18059241DOWNHOLE CATCHING DEVICE AND TOOL COMBINATIONNovember 2022October 2025Abandon3510NoNo
18056560Methods and Devices for Casing and Cementing WellboresNovember 2022December 2024Allow2510NoNo
17977429TALL FLANGE RUBBER ADAPTEROctober 2022July 2025Allow3220NoNo
17970966WELLBORE TRACTOR WITH INDEPENDENT DRIVESOctober 2022July 2025Allow3310YesNo
17938341TUBING RETRIEVABLE SAFETY VALVE ASSEMBLY WITH SECONDARY FLAPPER AND SEATOctober 2022March 2025Allow2910NoNo
17932139UNTETHERED LOGGING DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS OF LOGGING A WELLBORESeptember 2022March 2025Allow3010NoNo
17906235DRILL BIT COMPACT AND METHOD INCLUDING GRAPHENESeptember 2022November 2025Allow3840YesNo
17903725TOOL WITH A BASE ELEMENT AND STUDS PROVIDED THEREON AND USE OF SUCH TOOL FOR FORMING SECANT WALLSSeptember 2022March 2025Abandon3110NoNo
17821287Reverse Circulator And MethodAugust 2022November 2024Allow2610NoNo
17884459DRILLING RIG POWER SUPPLY BUS MANAGEMENTAugust 2022December 2025Allow4130NoNo
17816639FIXED CUTTER DRILL BITS AND CUTTER ELEMENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SAMEAugust 2022December 2024Allow2910YesNo
17815038Energy Retaining Toe ValveJuly 2022August 2024Allow2510NoNo
17741839SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRICAL CONTROL OF DOWNHOLE WELL TOOLSMay 2022September 2025Allow4031YesNo
17773540SENSOR ELEMENTS AND ASSEMBLIES, CUTTING TOOLS COMPRISING SAME AND METHODS OF USING SAMEApril 2022September 2024Allow2810NoNo
17696690APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PLACING A CASING PATCH IN CASING OF A WELLBOREMarch 2022February 2024Abandon2310NoNo
17692428ONE-PIECE CUTTING HEAD FOR A DRILL BITMarch 2022March 2024Allow2400NoNo
17639922PRESSURE CONTROL VALVEMarch 2022December 2023Allow2110NoNo
17584769COIL TUBING LATCH TOOLJanuary 2022July 2023Allow1800YesNo
17628658CENTRALISERJanuary 2022February 2025Allow3630YesNo
17565558ADJUSTABLE INJECTION VALVE FOR A PLUG AND ABANDONMENT ANCHORING DEVICEDecember 2021October 2023Allow2210YesNo
17561208PISTON-LESS DOWNHOLE TOOLS AND PISTON-LESS PRESSURE COMPENSATION TOOLSDecember 2021December 2023Allow2410YesNo
17613815A CUTTING ELEMENT AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAMENovember 2021May 2024Allow2920NoNo
17529611METHODS OF MANUFACTURING HIGH TEMPERATURE CONFORMABLE POLYMERIC SCREENSNovember 2021September 2023Allow2200YesNo
17595411MODULAR PERFORATION TOOLNovember 2021September 2023Allow2210YesNo
17526114METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING CASINGNovember 2021January 2024Allow2620YesNo
17510193SELECTIVELY LEACHED THERMALLY STABLE CUTTING ELEMENT IN EARTH-BORING TOOLS, EARTH-BORING TOOLS HAVING SELECTIVELY LEACHED CUTTING ELEMENTS, AND RELATED METHODSOctober 2021November 2023Allow2510YesNo
17490971ACCESSIBILITY BELOW AN ELECTRIC SUBMERSIBLE PUMP USING A Y-TOOLSeptember 2021June 2023Allow2100NoNo
17438367BOTTOMHOLE ASSEMBLYSeptember 2021November 2023Allow2610YesNo
17462392ADDRESSABLE SWITCH ASSEMBLY FOR WELLBORE SYSTEMS AND METHODAugust 2021April 2025Allow4440YesNo
17399136CASING EXIT ANCHOR WITH REDUNDANT ACTIVATION SYSTEMAugust 2021May 2023Allow2110NoNo
17393697CASING EXIT ANCHOR WITH REDUNDANT ACTIVATION SYSTEMAugust 2021May 2023Allow2110YesNo
17424188EXPANDABLE METAL PACKER SYSTEM WITH PRESSURE CONTROL DEVICEJuly 2021June 2023Allow2310YesNo
17377565MILL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING DRILL CUTTINGSJuly 2021May 2023Allow2210NoNo
17370952GOUGING CUTTER DRILL BITJuly 2021September 2023Allow2620NoNo
17365825ISOLATING A DOWNHOLE-TYPE ELECTRIC MACHINEJuly 2021July 2023Allow2410NoNo
17361634Insert For Use With Dual-Member Pipe JointJune 2021April 2023Allow2210NoNo
17360704SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MOUNTING A CUTTER IN A DRILL BITJune 2021May 2023Allow2310YesNo
17348684PRECIPITATE-STRENGTHENED HARD METAL-DIAMOND COMPOSITEJune 2021July 2024Allow3720YesNo
17298138JARRING TOOL AND METHOD OF USEMay 2021January 2024Allow3211NoNo
17295772DISC CUTTER FOR UNDERCUTTING APPARATUS AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOFMay 2021December 2023Allow3010NoNo
17323537POLYCRYSTALLINE DIAMOND COMPACT AND APPLICATIONS THEREFORMay 2021April 2023Allow2310NoNo
17315776DOWNHOLE MAGNET, DOWNHOLE MAGNETIC JETTING TOOL AND METHOD OF ATTACHMENT OF MAGNET PIECES TO THE TOOL BODYMay 2021April 2023Allow2310NoNo
17232561METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A TOE SLEEVEApril 2021April 2023Allow2310YesNo
17231371Coupling For RodsApril 2021May 2023Allow2510NoNo
17227987DISCONNECTABLE PRESSURE-PRESERVING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND METHOD OF INSTALLATIONApril 2021June 2023Allow2610YesNo
17198475ACTUATION VALVE SYSTEM WITH PILOT AND MAIN VALVESMarch 2021September 2023Allow3011NoNo
17196388USE OF HALBACH ARRAY IN DOWNHOLE DEBRIS RETRIEVAL MAGNETSMarch 2021September 2023Allow3020YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner HUTCHINS, CATHLEEN R.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
9
Examiner Affirmed
6
(66.7%)
Examiner Reversed
3
(33.3%)
Reversal Percentile
54.4%
Higher than average

What This Means

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.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
43
Allowed After Appeal Filing
19
(44.2%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
24
(55.8%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
72.7%
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, 44.2% 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 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 HUTCHINS, CATHLEEN R - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner HUTCHINS, CATHLEEN R works in Art Unit 3672 and has examined 1,128 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 82.9%, this examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 30 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner HUTCHINS, CATHLEEN R's allowance rate of 82.9% places them in the 56% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by HUTCHINS, CATHLEEN R 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 HUTCHINS, CATHLEEN R is 30 months. This places the examiner in the 62% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +8.4% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by HUTCHINS, CATHLEEN R. This interview benefit is in the 39% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide a below-average benefit with this examiner.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 34.5% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 76% 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 49.6% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 74% 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, 100.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 76% 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 78.0% of appeals filed. This is in the 70% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 34.4% 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, 50.4% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 49% 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 9.3% of allowed cases (in the 93% 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 0.4% of allowed cases (in the 54% 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:

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.