USPTO Examiner FORD DARRELL CHRISTOPHER - Art Unit 3726

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18973957Quasi-Cylindrical Cargo Container and ConstructionDecember 2024March 2025Allow300NoNo
18972409Quasi-Cylindrical Cargo Container and ConstructionDecember 2024June 2025Allow710YesNo
18908287SOLAR PANEL DISASSEMBLY DEVICE AND SOLAR PANEL DISASSEMBLY METHOD USING THE SAMEOctober 2024June 2025Allow810YesNo
18827629METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A RIFLE SCOPE MOUNTSeptember 2024June 2025Allow900YesNo
18716631DEVICE FOR ASSEMBLING AND DISASSEMBLING TOP NOZZLE OF NUCLEAR FUEL ASSEMBLYJune 2024April 2025Allow1010YesNo
18664447RATCHETING STRAP ADJUSTERMay 2024January 2025Allow810NoNo
18654487HEAT PIPE WICK FORMATIONMay 2024February 2025Allow1010YesNo
18635255Camping TrailerApril 2024August 2024Allow410YesNo
18602767METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING A PROTECTIVE FILMMarch 2024June 2025Allow1511YesNo
18684252HIGH PRODUCTION QUALITY ROUND WIRE ROD USING A SLIT ROLLING PROCESSFebruary 2024June 2025Allow1631YesNo
18421993ASSEMBLY PROCESSING DEVICE FOR OUTDOOR FOLDABLE CHAIR COMPONENTSJanuary 2024May 2025Abandon1620YesNo
18416319SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSEMBLING SUB-COMPONENTS, SUB-ELEMENTS, AND BUILDING ELEMENTSJanuary 2024June 2025Abandon1701NoNo
18408684METHOD FOR COMBINING HETEROGENEOUS METAL PARTSJanuary 2024March 2025Allow1410NoNo
18537203METHOD OF REPAIRING A HYDROGENERATORDecember 2023March 2025Allow1511YesNo
18510080Ribbed ScrewbossNovember 2023March 2025Allow1611YesNo
18389570CAGE NUT FASTENER AND METHODS FOR TOOL-LESS INSTALLATION OF SAMENovember 2023February 2025Allow1510NoNo
18381961AUTOMATED PROCESSING OF A TURBOMACHINERY COMPONENTOctober 2023May 2025Allow1921YesNo
18380682CAR DOOR INNER HANDLE MOUNT REPAIR METHOD AND STRUCTUREOctober 2023February 2025Allow1621YesNo
18468200AUTOMATED WALL FRAME ASSEMBLY SYSTEMSeptember 2023April 2025Allow1921YesNo
18466775METHOD AND SYSTEM WITH ACCELERATION BASED FLOW DRILL SCREW CONTROLSeptember 2023November 2024Allow1411YesNo
18367499STUD ALIGNMENT TOOLS, AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAMESeptember 2023September 2024Abandon1201NoNo
18233612RATCHETING STRAP ADJUSTERAugust 2023November 2024Allow1511YesNo
18220431Composite Open Web Beam-Joist and Method of ManufactureJuly 2023August 2024Allow1311YesNo
18220259ASSEMBLY PROCESSING DEVICE FOR OUTDOOR FOLDABLE CHAIR COMPONENTSJuly 2023February 2024Allow710NoNo
18210031NUT PLATE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING TILTABLE FLOATING NUT WITH CURVED INTERFACEJune 2023August 2024Allow1421YesNo
18210030Quasi-Cylindrical Cargo Container and ConstructionJune 2023September 2024Allow1500YesNo
18267306Method for replacing the drilling segments of a drill bit, and cutting section for a drill bitJune 2023March 2025Abandon2111NoNo
18200661Article Selection And Placement AssemblyMay 2023January 2024Allow800YesNo
18140392SLIDABLE MOUNTING HARDWARE FOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT ENCLOSUREApril 2023May 2024Allow1310YesNo
18136627METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING A DIE UNIT FOR A SHEET EXTRUSION SYSTEMApril 2023March 2025Allow2311YesNo
18133710SEALED FASTENER CAP AND RELATED METHOD OF MANUFACTUREApril 2023November 2024Allow1901NoNo
18248282PROCESSING MACHINE AND PRODUCTION METHOD FOR OBJECT SUBJECT TO PROCESSINGApril 2023March 2025Allow2310YesNo
18295413METHOD FOR TURBINE BLADE AND ASSEMBLY WITH DOVETAIL ARRANGEMENT FOR ENLARGED ROTOR GROOVEApril 2023March 2024Allow1111YesNo
18194754Method for Tightening or Loosening with a Squeezing Clamp Hammer Union Torque ToolApril 2023June 2024Allow1420YesNo
18191089TENSIONING METHOD FOR TENSEGRITY KEELMarch 2023March 2024Allow1210YesNo
18125561WINDSCREEN INSTALLATION APPARATUS AND METHODMarch 2023September 2024Allow1821YesNo
18025760System, method and flange device for fastening a saw blade to a drive spindle of a sawing deviceMarch 2023December 2024Allow2111YesNo
18110964AUXILIARY AIR VENT FOR CLIMATE CONTROL UNITFebruary 2023July 2023Allow510NoNo
18168058SETTING DEVICE WITH AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FOR IMPLEMENTING A BOLT SETTING METHODFebruary 2023March 2024Allow1310NoNo
18163395SCREW TIGHTENING SYSTEM, CONTROLLER, AND NON-TRANSITORY STORAGE MEDIUMFebruary 2023April 2025Allow2720YesNo
18007150Use of an Oversized Threaded Rod in a Locking Oblong HoleJanuary 2023November 2024Allow2221YesNo
18097344Oil And Gas Pipe ConnectorJanuary 2023April 2025Allow2730YesNo
18004376Device for Setting a Temporary FastenerJanuary 2023December 2024Allow2411YesNo
18014453STAKING APPARATUS AND STAKING METHOD FOR BEARING UNIT, MANUFACTURING METHOD AND MANUFACTURING APPARATUS OF HUB UNIT BEARING, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF VEHICLEJanuary 2023July 2024Allow1811NoNo
18148790DUAL-WALLED COMPONENTS FOR A GAS TURBINE ENGINEDecember 2022June 2024Allow1810YesNo
18088155METHOD OF MODIFYING A DRIVELINE OF A TOY VEHICLE, MODIFIED TOY VEHICLE DRIVELINE, AND KIT FOR MODIFYING A DRIVELINE OF A TOY VEHICLEDecember 2022June 2024Abandon1801NoNo
18078246Composite Open Web Beam-Joist and Method of ManufactureDecember 2022June 2023Allow720YesNo
18008491METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SHAFTDecember 2022July 2024Allow1910NoNo
17928588PIN SHAFT DISMOUNTING AND MOUNTING DEVICE, FRAME BODY CONNECTING STRUCTURE AND WORK MACHINENovember 2022August 2023Allow910YesNo
17975627FASTENER STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF USE AND ASSEMBLY METHOD THEREOFOctober 2022March 2024Abandon1611NoNo
17964467APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A COMPONENT PART IN AN AUTOMATED LINEOctober 2022February 2024Allow1710YesNo
17918109METHOD OF MANUFACTURING TUBULAR HOLLOW PROFILE VEHICLE FRAME PARTSOctober 2022June 2025Abandon3301NoNo
17913557VEHICLE COMPONENT CONVEYANCE APPARATUS AND VEHICLE COMPONENT CONVEYANCE METHODSeptember 2022May 2024Abandon2001NoNo
17944719FORGING DEVICE AND FORGING METHOD FOR OUTER JOINT MEMBER OF CONSTANT-VELOCITY UNIVERSAL JOINTSeptember 2022November 2023Allow1400YesNo
17903676RIVET DISPENSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE THEREOFSeptember 2022December 2023Abandon1611NoNo
17909127METHOD FOR STACKING SHEET METAL PARTS MADE FROM AN ELECTRICAL STEEL STRIP OR SHEET TO FORM LAMINATION STACKSSeptember 2022April 2023Allow800YesNo
17899906METHOD FOR HANDLING COMPONENTS OF A SHEET EXTRUSION SYSTEMAugust 2022January 2025Allow2921YesNo
17895744STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING FLAG-TYPE SIDE MIRRORAugust 2022December 2023Allow1620YesNo
17892181PRESS DEVICEAugust 2022December 2022Allow400YesNo
17879400DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING POCKET SPRING BED NETAugust 2022July 2023Allow1211YesNo
17877293Amorphous Metal Rivet Systems and Methods for Their UseJuly 2022June 2023Allow1111YesNo
17815653INTERNAL WASHING PROVISIONS FOR FOOD PROCESS LINE MACHINESJuly 2022August 2023Allow1301YesNo
17865045FORMING METHOD OF NICKEL ALUMINUM ALLOY TUBULAR PART WITH MICRO FLOW CHANNELSJuly 2022April 2023Allow900NoNo
17790640Combustion Cylinder Mounting Method and Combustion Cylinder Mounting JigJuly 2022March 2024Allow2011NoNo
17788705METHOD FOR REUSING ACTIVE MATERIAL USING POSITIVE ELECTRODE SCRAPJune 2022September 2024Allow2721YesNo
17826785COMBINED TRANSFER AND STORAGE DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING LINE FOR MACHININGMay 2022February 2024Allow2010YesNo
17750219FLEXIBLE FASTENER CAPTIVATORMay 2022April 2024Allow2311NoNo
17742695METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN OVERLAPPING CONNECTION, AND BODY COMPONENT FOR A VEHICLEMay 2022June 2023Allow1311YesNo
17734048EXTRACTION DEVICE FOR HEATING TRACERApril 2022November 2023Allow1800NoNo
17725834WORK-SAVING IMPROVEMENTS FOR FOOD-PROCESS LINESApril 2022May 2024Allow2511YesNo
17770695METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DEBURRING A WORKPIECE WITH AN INNER TOOTHINGApril 2022September 2024Allow2901NoNo
17725987MATERIAL MECHANICAL FASTENERApril 2022February 2023Allow1011YesNo
17724799PRODUCTION FLOW-RATE MEASUREMENT OPTIONS FOR FOOD PROCESS LINESApril 2022December 2023Allow2010NoNo
17769084INSTALLATION/REMOVAL DEVICE FOR ONE OR MORE ROTOR BLOCKS OF A TURBOCHARGER ASSEMBLY, AND METHODApril 2022January 2025Abandon3301NoNo
17714274METHODS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS FOR MANUFACTURING COMPOSITE BARREL STRUCTURESApril 2022October 2023Allow1821YesNo
17765473SMALL FASTENERMarch 2022January 2024Allow2210YesNo
17702965METHOD FOR MOUNTING VEHICLE ELEMENTS TO A MOTOR VEHICLE REAR ENDMarch 2022July 2023Allow1620YesNo
17702932Composite Open Web Beam-Joist and Method of ManufactureMarch 2022October 2022Allow711YesNo
17685846Structural Fastener Including Coupler for Threaded RodMarch 2022June 2023Allow1510YesNo
17682426MODULAR REMOVABLE AIR MOVER FOR DUAL ACCESSFebruary 2022September 2023Allow1810YesNo
17652419CONNECTOR HOUSINGS, USE OF, AND METHOD THEREFORFebruary 2022December 2022Abandon1001NoNo
17669551BLIND FASTENERS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMSFebruary 2022June 2024Allow2842YesNo
17591209LIGHTWEIGHT ARMORFebruary 2022August 2023Abandon1920NoNo
17649054LUBRICATION SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT ENGINE REDUCTION GEARBOXJanuary 2022April 2025Allow3911NoNo
17580829PIERCING NUT AND METHOD FOR FIXING THE SAME TO INNER SURFACE OF MATING MEMBER HAVING CLOSED SECTIONAL SHAPEJanuary 2022October 2023Allow2011YesNo
17627031Method for Marking Workpieces and WorkpieceJanuary 2022October 2024Abandon3311YesNo
17548091CAGE NUT FASTENER AND METHODS FOR TOOL-LESS INSTALLATION OF SAMEDecember 2021August 2023Allow2010NoNo
17617013GEAR-TOOTH SYSTEM AND SHAFT/HUB CONNECTION COMPONENTDecember 2021July 2023Allow1911YesNo
17541826MACHINING OF CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITE DURING PREFORMING AND PARTIAL DENSIFICATIONDecember 2021December 2022Allow1311YesNo
17541178FASTENER INSERT FOR A COMPOSITE SANDWICH PANEL, A PANEL ASSEMBLY, AND A METHOD OF FASTENING A COMPONENT TO A COMPOSITE SANDWICH PANELDecember 2021August 2024Allow3221YesNo
17540940METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING PRODUCT, PUNCH, MANUFACTURING SYSTEM, DEVICE, AND PRODUCTDecember 2021August 2024Allow3321NoNo
17519198AUTOMOTIVE GLASS SETTING APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREOFNovember 2021August 2024Allow3311YesNo
17608282SPOOL OF POCKETED SPRINGSNovember 2021August 2023Allow2111YesNo
17450893PARALLEL CELL BASED MOBILITY PRODUCTION SYSTEMOctober 2021September 2023Allow2320NoNo
17497626APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ALIGNING HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIESOctober 2021May 2023Allow2021YesNo
17439726PROCESS FOR MILLING A KITCHEN SINKSeptember 2021April 2024Allow3110YesNo
17407977METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A TUBE SNAP FASTENING ARRANGEMENTAugust 2021February 2025Allow4131YesYes
17405908MANUFACTURING PROCESS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE PLATFORMAugust 2021May 2023Allow2110NoNo
17444952DUAL-WALLED COMPONENTS FOR A GAS TURBINE ENGINEAugust 2021September 2022Allow1311YesNo
17397127METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A TAPERED ROLLER BEARING, AND ASSEMBLY UNIT FOR THIS PURPOSEAugust 2021June 2022Allow1011YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner FORD, DARRELL CHRISTOPHER.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
2
Examiner Affirmed
1
(50.0%)
Examiner Reversed
1
(50.0%)
Reversal Percentile
77.9%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 50.0% reversal rate, the PTAB reverses the examiner's rejections in a meaningful percentage of cases. 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
17
Allowed After Appeal Filing
11
(64.7%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
6
(35.3%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
90.5%
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, 64.7% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is in the top 25% across the USPTO, indicating that filing appeals is particularly effective here. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.

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 FORD, DARRELL CHRISTOPHER - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner FORD, DARRELL CHRISTOPHER works in Art Unit 3726 and has examined 564 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 73.0%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 31 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner FORD, DARRELL CHRISTOPHER's allowance rate of 73.0% places them in the 29% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by FORD, DARRELL CHRISTOPHER receive 1.74 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 51% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues a slightly above-average number of office actions.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by FORD, DARRELL CHRISTOPHER is 31 months. This places the examiner in the 38% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly slower than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +47.2% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by FORD, DARRELL CHRISTOPHER. This interview benefit is in the 93% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews are highly effective with this examiner and should be strongly considered as a prosecution strategy. Per MPEP § 713.10, interviews are available at any time before the Notice of Allowance is mailed or jurisdiction transfers to the PTAB.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 30.9% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 54% 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 36.1% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 46% 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, 142.9% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 88% 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 88.2% of appeals filed. This is in the 79% 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, 61.1% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 78% 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 0.9% of allowed cases (in the 67% 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 3.9% of allowed cases (in the 75% 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:

  • Prioritize examiner interviews: Interviews are highly effective with this examiner. Request an interview after the first office action to clarify issues and potentially expedite allowance.
  • 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.