USPTO Examiner CONLEY FREDRICK C - Art Unit 3679

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19025877PATIENT-POSITIONING SYSTEM, COMPUTER-CONTROL AND DATA-INTEGRATION SYSTEM, SURGICAL COMPONENTRY, AND SURGICAL METHODS OF USING SAMEJanuary 2025March 2026Allow1400NoNo
19011491HEAD AND NECK CRADLEJanuary 2025February 2026Allow1300NoNo
19010243Layered Yarn and Weighted Blanket for Deep Pressure TherapyJanuary 2025February 2026Allow1420YesNo
18960652MULTI-ALERT LIGHTS FOR HOSPITAL BEDNovember 2024February 2026Allow1400NoNo
18956486MATTRESS DEGRADATION DETERMINATION USING RADARNovember 2024February 2026Allow1400NoNo
18937426Patient Transport System Including A Patient Transport Apparatus And Loading System For The SameNovember 2024January 2026Allow1500NoNo
18918167HYPOMOCHLION OF AN OPERATING TABLEOctober 2024February 2026Allow1600NoNo
18823025MATTRESS WITH FLAME BARRIER CAP AND RELATED METHODSeptember 2024January 2026Allow1600NoNo
18736714BEDSORE PREVENTION DEVICE, FURNITURE SUPPORT ELEMENT COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE, AND METHOD OF EQUIPPING A SUPPORT ELEMENT WITH SUCH A PREVENTION DEVICEJune 2024March 2026Allow2110NoNo
18699700MATApril 2024March 2026Allow2310NoNo
18695522ELASTIC CUSHION, ADDITIONAL ELASTIC CUSHION LAYER, AND FURNITUREMarch 2024November 2025Allow2000NoNo
18384408Patient Support Apparatus Having A Skirt BarrierOctober 2023February 2026Allow2810NoNo
18338694PERSONALIZED PILLOW AND/OR MATTRESS SELECTIONJune 2023February 2026Allow3220NoNo
18207446Bed Skirt AssemblyJune 2023February 2026Abandon3220NoNo
18304532BED RAIL ASSEMBLYApril 2023October 2025Allow3020NoNo
18052540MOBILE RADIOLUCENT IMAGING TABLENovember 2022January 2026Allow4910YesNo
17972808Inflatable Pillow, Compartmental Pillow, and Pillow DispenserOctober 2022February 2026Allow4021NoNo
17822561MATTRESS ASSEMBLY WITH REDUCED HEAT INDEXAugust 2022January 2026Allow4130NoNo
17895550BED SCALE NOISE COMPENSATION USING A REFERENCE TRANSDUCERAugust 2022November 2025Allow3820NoNo
17869509SUPPORT CUSHIONS INCLUDING A SUPPORT INSERT SURROUNDED BY FOAM RAILS FOR DIRECTING AIR FLOW, METHODS FOR CONTROLLING SURFACE TEMPERATURE OF SAME, AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING SAMEJuly 2022January 2026Allow4230NoNo
17726138SYSTEM FOR PRONE POSITIONING OF SURGICAL PATIENTSApril 2022November 2025Allow4330NoNo
15259035BEDHEAD AND COLLAPSIBLE BED FRAME WITH THE BEDHEADSeptember 2016May 2017Allow810NoNo
14990435METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND DEVICES FOR COMBINATION DUVET COVER AND COMFORTERJanuary 2016September 2017Allow2010NoNo
14063660NURSING AND INFANT SUPPORT PILLOW WITH ACCESSORY UNITOctober 2013February 2017Allow3960YesYes
13243570Nursing and Infant Support PillowSeptember 2011December 2017Allow6050YesYes
12648865MATTRESS DESIGNDecember 2009December 2010Allow1110NoNo
11042678MATTRESS DESIGNJanuary 2005November 2009Allow5770NoYes

Appeals Overview

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

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
1
Examiner Affirmed
0
(0.0%)
Examiner Reversed
1
(100.0%)
Reversal Percentile
98.5%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 100.0% reversal rate, the PTAB has reversed the examiner's rejections more often than affirming them. This reversal rate is in the top 25% across the USPTO, indicating that appeals are more successful here than in most other areas.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
4
Allowed After Appeal Filing
1
(25.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
3
(75.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
36.0%
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, 25.0% 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 CONLEY, FREDRICK C - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner CONLEY, FREDRICK C works in Art Unit 3679 and has examined 6 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 100.0%, this examiner allows applications at a higher rate than most examiners at the USPTO. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 39 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner CONLEY, FREDRICK C's allowance rate of 100.0% places them in the 100% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner is more likely to allow applications than most examiners at the USPTO.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by CONLEY, FREDRICK C receive 3.50 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 94% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues more office actions than most examiners, which may indicate thorough examination or difficulty in reaching agreement with applicants.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by CONLEY, FREDRICK C is 39 months. This places the examiner in the 28% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly slower than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +0.0% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by CONLEY, FREDRICK C. This interview benefit is in the 16% 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, 16.7% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 14% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show lower effectiveness with this examiner compared to others. Consider whether a continuation application might be more strategic, especially if you need to add new matter or significantly broaden claims.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 25.0% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 34% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner shows below-average receptiveness to after-final amendments. You may need to file an RCE or appeal rather than relying on after-final amendment entry.

Pre-Appeal Conference Effectiveness

When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 200.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 98% 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 80.0% of appeals filed. This is in the 73% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 25.0% 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, 133.3% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 97% 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 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 39% percentile). This examiner makes examiner's amendments less often than average. You may need to make most claim amendments yourself.

Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 42% percentile). This examiner issues Quayle actions less often than average. Allowances may come directly without a separate action for formal matters.

Prosecution Strategy Recommendations

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

  • Expect multiple rounds of prosecution: This examiner issues more office actions than average. Address potential issues proactively in your initial response and consider requesting an interview early in prosecution.
  • 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.

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.