USPTO Examiner CARTER MONICA SMITH - Art Unit 3723

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
16632401CLEANING SYSTEMJanuary 2020December 2021Allow2310NoNo
16595447SAR ROLLEROctober 2019June 2020Abandon900NoNo
16582715STAND UP SANDER ASSEMBLYSeptember 2019November 2023Abandon5020NoNo
16454725POLISHING PAD FOR SUBSTRATE POLISHING APPARATUS AND SUBSTRATE POLISHING APPARATUS HAVING POLISHING PADJune 2019July 2023Abandon4911NoNo
16414275Device for Tensioning a ScrewMay 2019August 2023Abandon5120YesNo
16380352WRENCH EXTENSION DEVICEApril 2019October 2023Abandon5531YesNo
15988800Flexible WrenchMay 2018October 2020Abandon2910NoNo
15968532HIGH NOSE CLAMPMay 2018October 2020Abandon2910NoNo
15753137CLEANER AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOFFebruary 2018October 2020Abandon3220NoNo
15749689ROBOT CLEANERFebruary 2018July 2020Abandon3020NoNo
15849230Method and Machine for Finishing a Spherically Curved Surface Portion of a Workpiece by Means of a Finishing Tool and a Dressing Tool for the Finishing ToolDecember 2017October 2020Abandon3420NoNo
15738569DEVICE FOR SMOOTHING AND/OR FLOATINGDecember 2017December 2019Abandon2410NoNo
15818238GLASS CLEANERNovember 2017January 2020Abandon2610NoNo
15575062ELECTROMAGNETIC PIG FOR OIL AND GAS PIPELINESNovember 2017January 2020Abandon2610NoNo
15816840PET DE-SHEDDING TOOLNovember 2017December 2019Abandon2510NoNo
15816854GRILL CLEANER INCLUDING WIRE LOOPSNovember 2017December 2019Abandon2510NoNo
15808139SHOCK-ABSORBING TOOL HANDLENovember 2017April 2020Abandon2910NoNo
15806060RATCHET WRENCHNovember 2017June 2020Abandon3110NoNo
15801384WHEEL LUG NUT TOOLNovember 2017August 2020Abandon3320NoNo
15684709PHOSPHOROUS MODIFIED MOLECULAR SIEVES, THEIR USE IN CONVERSION OF ORGANICS TO OLEFINSAugust 2017May 2018Allow910NoNo
15536282MAGNETIC FIELD GENERATION APPARATUS OF MAGNETORHEOLOGICAL POLISHING DEVICEJune 2017November 2019Abandon2920NoNo
15601864Anti-slip Wrench-Type ToolMay 2017March 2020Abandon3420NoNo
15450587MULTIPURPOSE HAND HELD TOOLSMarch 2017May 2020Abandon3840YesNo
15347313INSERT BITNovember 2016June 2020Abandon4330NoNo
15297397Tai Chi Sword BrushOctober 2016December 2019Abandon3720YesNo
15217641ADJUSTABLE PLIERSJuly 2016April 2020Abandon4420NoNo
15210061Wire Stripping MachineJuly 2016October 2020Abandon5130NoNo
15203861SELF-LOCKING PLIERSJuly 2016June 2020Abandon4730NoNo
14799034STREAMLINED FLAT WINDSCREEN WIPERJuly 2015June 2019Abandon4721YesNo
14755030OFFSET WRENCHJune 2015November 2019Abandon5340NoNo
14713898SONIC ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSHMay 2015April 2019Abandon4720YesNo
14421184SANDING SYSTEMApril 2015December 2019Abandon5860NoNo
14681157METHOD AND DEVICE FOR WRINGING A MOPApril 2015October 2018Abandon4220YesNo
14671877SOLAR MODULE CLEANERMarch 2015March 2019Abandon4830NoNo
14425697INCORPORATING ADDITIVES INTO FIXED ABRASIVE WEBS FOR IMPROVED CMP PERFORMANCEMarch 2015November 2019Abandon5750YesNo
14135413RADIAL FOLDOUT TOOL WITH MULTIPLE TYPES OF TOOLS AND BIT STORAGEDecember 2013March 2020Abandon6080YesNo
14028708ABRASIVE FLAP DISCSeptember 2013November 2019Abandon6070YesNo
13690927WIPER DEVICE FOR CLEANING A VEHICLE WINDSCREENNovember 2012December 2019Abandon6080YesNo
13356027ADJUSTABLE WRENCHJanuary 2012October 2020Abandon60100YesYes
13265941WINDSCREEN WIPER DEVICEOctober 2011December 2019Abandon6070YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner CARTER, MONICA SMITH.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
1
Examiner Affirmed
1
(100.0%)
Examiner Reversed
0
(0.0%)
Reversal Percentile
19.2%
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
2
Allowed After Appeal Filing
0
(0.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
2
(100.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
10.3%
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, 0.0% 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 CARTER, MONICA SMITH - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner CARTER, MONICA SMITH works in Art Unit 3723 and has examined 40 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 5.0%, this examiner allows applications at a lower rate than most examiners at the USPTO. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 42 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner CARTER, MONICA SMITH's allowance rate of 5.0% places them in the 1% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner is less likely to allow applications than most examiners at the USPTO.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by CARTER, MONICA SMITH receive 2.80 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 78% 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 CARTER, MONICA SMITH is 42 months. This places the examiner in the 20% percentile for prosecution speed. Applications take longer to reach final disposition with this examiner compared to most others.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a -7.4% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by CARTER, MONICA SMITH. This interview benefit is in the 5% 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, 0.0% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 2% 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 0.0% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 5% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner rarely enters after-final amendments compared to other examiners. You should generally plan to file an RCE or appeal rather than relying on after-final amendment entry. Per MPEP § 714.12, primary examiners have discretion in entering after-final amendments, and this examiner exercises that discretion conservatively.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 0.0% of appeals filed. This is in the 2% percentile among all examiners. 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, 0.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 7% 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 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 41% 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 48% 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:

  • Prepare for rigorous examination: With a below-average allowance rate, ensure your application has strong written description and enablement support. Consider filing a continuation if you need to add new matter.
  • 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.
  • Plan for RCE after final rejection: This examiner rarely enters after-final amendments. Budget for an RCE in your prosecution strategy if you receive a final rejection.
  • Plan for extended prosecution: Applications take longer than average with this examiner. Factor this into your continuation strategy and client communications.

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.