USPTO Examiner HOTCHKISS MICHAEL WAYNE - Art Unit 3726

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19013549AUTOMATIC GRAPHITE CONVEYING DEVICE AND WINDING MACHINE FOR SPIRAL WOUND GASKETJanuary 2025April 2025Allow300NoNo
19008133Toolkit and Method for Embedding Flat Padded Earring Posts into Polymer Clay JewelryJanuary 2025June 2025Allow611YesNo
18633313METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PULLING BUNDLES OF CONDUITSApril 2024April 2025Allow1211YesNo
18697895METHOD FOR PRODUCING FRAME STRUCTUREApril 2024March 2025Allow1110YesNo
18691888METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A BUNK FOR A VEHICLEMarch 2024March 2025Allow1210NoNo
18441722METHOD OF PRODUCING STRUCTUREFebruary 2024April 2025Allow1420YesNo
18430319LUBRICATION NETWORK FOR AN ATTRITABLE ENGINEFebruary 2024January 2025Allow1210YesNo
18526548Method and Apparatus for the Application of Frame to Fuselage Pull-up Force via Fuselage Skin Waterline TensioningDecember 2023February 2025Allow1510YesNo
18509149MODULAR, COST-EFFECTIVE, FIELD REPAIRABLE CHASSIS AND MECHANICAL COMPONENTS FOR HEAVY DUTY AUTONOMOUS ROBOTNovember 2023December 2024Allow1320YesNo
18504394METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING ADDITIVE PARTSNovember 2023May 2024Allow611YesNo
18387722GLUELESS POCKETED SPRING CUSHIONING UNIT ASSEMBLERNovember 2023February 2025Allow1510YesNo
18385921AIRCRAFT ENGINE INSTALLATION ALIGNMENT SYSTEMNovember 2023October 2024Allow1211YesNo
18375695APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DECONSTRUCTING MATTRESSESOctober 2023November 2024Allow1301YesNo
18454233METHOD OF MANUFACTURING FOLDED STRUCTURE WITH ADDITIVE FEATURESAugust 2023May 2025Abandon2020NoNo
18277627METHOD AND BLADE INSTALLATION DEVICE FOR INSTALLING A BLADE OF AN OFFSHORE WIND TURBINEAugust 2023February 2025Allow1810YesNo
18357768REFERENTIAL POSITIONING DEVICE INTENDED TO POSITION RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AT LEAST ONE CABIN FLOOR GRID AND ONE SIDE SHELL OF AN AIRCRAFT IN ORDER TO ASSEMBLE A FUSELAGE BARREL OF THE AIRCRAFTJuly 2023February 2025Allow1910NoNo
18357779SYSTEM FOR HANDLING A SIDE SHELL OF AN AIRCRAFT WITH A VIEW TO ASSEMBLING A FUSELAGE BARREL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A FUSELAGE BARREL OF AN AIRCRAFTJuly 2023January 2025Allow1810YesNo
18221804ADAPTIVE TOOLING ASSEMBLYJuly 2023July 2024Allow1310YesNo
18259787METHOD OF JOINING BLADE SEGMENTS USING AN INTERNAL BLADDERJune 2023April 2025Abandon2220NoNo
18199095SHELL WITH EXPANDABLE RIVET BUTTON AND TOOLING THEREFORMay 2023May 2024Allow1210YesNo
18143037INLET LIP SKIN MANUFACTURING METHODMay 2023February 2024Allow910NoNo
18311382MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SHAPING AND ASSEMBLING FLEXIBLE STRUCTURESMay 2023March 2025Allow2320YesNo
18301431DISSASSEMBLY FOR DUAL ENGINE VERTICAL TAKE OFF AND LANDING COLLAPSIBLE FIXED WING AIRCRAFTApril 2023September 2024Allow1710YesNo
18298847LIQUID METAL EJECTOR LEVEL SENSING SYSTEM AND METHODS THEREOFApril 2023September 2024Abandon1810NoNo
18131687System and Method for Manufacturing Powders from Ductile MaterialsApril 2023April 2024Allow1210YesNo
18122186EXTENDABLE COUPLER ACCESSORYMarch 2023October 2024Allow1920YesNo
18006305CLIP FOR ATTACHING A FLUID LINE TO AN ARMJanuary 2023June 2024Allow1720YesNo
18152867Method Of Manufacturing Partially Foam Encased Pocketed Spring AssemblyJanuary 2023June 2024Allow1710YesNo
18086625Tool kit with quick-connect coupling for paintless dent removalDecember 2022January 2024Allow1300YesNo
18069080HEAT EXCHANGE SYSTEM WITH TUBING APPLIED TO A COMPLEX CURVED SURFACEDecember 2022May 2025Allow2901YesNo
18082883APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DECONSTRUCTING MATTRESSESDecember 2022August 2023Allow801YesNo
180768803D PRINTED VEHICLE ARCHITECTURE, JOINTS AND METHODDecember 2022April 2024Allow1610YesNo
18077221Rapid Sequential Circular Assembly System for Space StationDecember 2022July 2024Allow1910YesNo
18076011SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING AIRCRAFTDecember 2022May 2024Allow1820YesNo
17928760Bonding methods for laminated light alloy partsNovember 2022April 2024Abandon1610YesNo
18058412Pocketed Spring AssemblyNovember 2022July 2024Abandon2010NoNo
17992016METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN OBJECT BY GENERATIVE MANUFACTURING, COMPONENT, IN PARTICULAR FOR AN AIRCRAFT OR SPACECRAFT, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUMNovember 2022August 2024Allow2111YesNo
17926015PRESS FORMING METHODNovember 2022November 2024Allow2410NoNo
17970218EMULATOROctober 2022March 2025Allow2920YesNo
17967702INTEROPERABLE MAIN BEAM ENABLED CANTILEVERED JOIST BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FORMWORKOctober 2022September 2024Abandon2320YesNo
18046887Methods and Structural Gap Filler for One-Up AssemblyOctober 2022August 2023Allow1000YesNo
17913171CARRYING MECHANISM FOR USE IN MATTRESS PRODUCTIONSeptember 2022June 2024Abandon2110NoNo
17905020REMOTELY OPERABLE CLAMP DEVICEAugust 2022November 2023Allow1500NoNo
17894909GLUELESS POCKETED SPRING CUSHIONING UNIT ASSEMBLERAugust 2022August 2023Allow1110YesNo
17894879GLUELESS POCKETED SPRING CUSHIONING UNIT ASSEMBLERAugust 2022March 2023Allow600YesNo
17821714MULTI-TIER TORQUE ENHANCER DRIVER AND/OR RECEIVER AND METHOD OF USING SAMEAugust 2022December 2023Allow1610YesNo
17821357TORQUE ENHANCER DEVICE FOR GRASPING AND TOOLING, AND ASSEMBLIES AND USES THEREOFAugust 2022December 2023Allow1610YesNo
17872589WHEEL BEARING DEVICEJuly 2022November 2024Allow2740YesNo
17872384SELF-GRIPPING HERNIA PROSTHESISJuly 2022April 2025Allow3330YesNo
17861371METHOD FOR THE ASSEMBLY OF FRAMES IN AN AIRCRAFT SHELLJuly 2022April 2024Allow2120YesNo
17810821Method for Assembling a Mattress FoundationJuly 2022December 2024Abandon2930NoNo
17856518POWER TOOL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOVING ROOF SHINGLESJuly 2022May 2024Allow2321YesNo
17853209Automated Method for Nose Cone ManufacturingJune 2022May 2023Allow1100YesNo
17846591MACHINE COMPARTMENT FOR A VACUUM INSULATED STRUCTUREJune 2022December 2024Allow3030YesNo
17786611METHOD FOR MONITORING TIRES OF MORE THAN 30 INCHES VIA VIDEO MEANSJune 2022September 2024Allow2720YesNo
17780413A DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR PREPARING A BONE TRANSPLANTMay 2022June 2024Allow2431YesNo
17663853COMPRESSION SYSTEM CALIBRATIONMay 2022May 2025Allow3611YesNo
17777283ROLLED (FeCoNiCrRn/Al)-2024Al COMPOSITE PANEL AND FABRICATION METHOD THEREOFMay 2022June 2023Allow1300YesNo
17741214GLUELESS POCKETED SPRING CUSHIONING UNIT ASSEMBLERMay 2022October 2024Abandon3010NoNo
17736241handle and a kit of tools for paintless dent removalMay 2022October 2023Allow1720YesNo
17735426Method and Apparatus for the Application of Frame to Fuselage Pull-up Force via Fuselage Skin Waterline TensioningMay 2022August 2023Allow1611YesNo
17725633SEAL INSTALLATION TOOLApril 2022February 2024Allow2230YesNo
17754965METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A TOOTHED BEVEL HONING TOOL FOR HONING A TOOTHED BEVEL WORKPIECE, A TOOTHED BEVEL HONING TOOL AND METHOD OF HONING BEVEL GEARSApril 2022July 2024Allow2710YesNo
17718885METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING PRESS-FORMED PRODUCT, PRESS FORMING DIE, AND PRESS-FORMED PRODUCTApril 2022August 2024Allow2801YesNo
17767499LIFTING SYSTEM FOR A ROTOR BLADE OF A WIND TURBINEApril 2022April 2024Abandon2411NoNo
17767050INFORMATION PROCESSING TERMINAL DEVICE COUPLING MECHANISM AND COUPLING METHODApril 2022March 2024Abandon2301NoNo
17762596DEVICE FOR REMOVING A WEAR MEMBERMarch 2022December 2023Allow2111YesNo
17689297Method For Manufacturing A Cover Layer Of A Fleece Material For An Innerspring Unit And Innerspring UnitMarch 2022October 2022Allow700YesNo
17679254METHOD OF MANUFACTURING VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE COMPONENT TO INCLUDE REINFORCED REGIONSFebruary 2022January 2023Allow1120YesNo
17582840Moving Fluid in a Rotating CylinderJanuary 2022November 2023Allow2210YesNo
17580474AUTOMOBILE HAVING RETRACTABLE REAR QUARTER WINDOWSJanuary 2022September 2024Abandon3231YesNo
17570229SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POSITIONING A SUB-ASSEMBLY FOR INSTALLATIONJanuary 2022July 2023Allow1810YesNo
17562451SEALS AND METHODS OF MAKING SEALSDecember 2021April 2024Allow2750YesNo
17620241METAL RIB OVERMOLDING JOININGDecember 2021April 2025Allow4050YesNo
17550823POSITIONING-, DRILLING-, AND JOINING METHODS FOR A MACHINE TOOL DEVICEDecember 2021October 2023Allow2220YesNo
17550727SYSTEM FOR MACHINING AND POSITIONING AUTOMOBILE HUB AND PRODUCTION LINE FOR INTELLIGENT CLEANING AND PRECISION MACHININGDecember 2021April 2023Allow1600YesNo
17539208METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FORMING COMPOSITE PASTA FILATA CHEESEDecember 2021August 2023Abandon2120YesNo
17614962A SECURING DEVICE AND REMOVAL TOOL FOR USE WITH THE SECURING DEVICENovember 2021January 2024Allow2610YesNo
17532028APPLICATION OF GAP FILLERS DURING LAYUP OF CHARGES OF COMPOSITE MATERIALNovember 2021July 2023Allow2021YesNo
17529573PROCESS TO PROGRAM AN ORTHODONTIC COMPONENT FROM A SHAPE MEMORY MATERIALNovember 2021September 2023Allow2220YesNo
17455484HOLDING TABLE MANUFACTURING METHODNovember 2021January 2023Allow1400YesNo
17526576Flat Siding Panel and Panel Siding SystemNovember 2021May 2025Allow4250YesNo
17526261RATCHETING TOOL FOR PAINTLESS DENT REMOVAL TOOLS AND METHOD OF USENovember 2021September 2023Abandon2211NoNo
17524072FRACTIONAL PULSE ASSEMBLY LINENovember 2021March 2023Allow1601YesNo
17523032INDEXING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF INDEXINGNovember 2021February 2024Allow2741YesNo
17454279MIRRORED FABRICATION AND ASSEMBLY OF AIRCRAFT WINGSNovember 2021July 2023Allow2031YesNo
17454286ASSEMBLY LINE FABRICATION AND ASSEMBLY OF AIRCRAFT WINGSNovember 2021May 2023Allow1820YesNo
17520565ULTRASONIC ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF BOX-LIKE PARTSNovember 2021March 2023Abandon1610NoNo
17505505SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING AIRCRAFTOctober 2021September 2022Allow1111YesNo
17492445BUBBLE COVER TO REDUCE NOISE AND VIBRATIONOctober 2021July 2023Abandon2121YesNo
17449021METHOD OF JETTING PRINT MATERIAL AND METHOD OF PRINTINGSeptember 2021July 2023Allow2230YesNo
17482972Vehicle Seat Correction System and Method of Correcting a Defect in a Vehicle SeatSeptember 2021March 2023Allow1820YesNo
17481208NARROW BEAM OPTICAL SENSOR SYSTEMSeptember 2021September 2023Abandon2420YesNo
17440214PRESS FORMING METHODSeptember 2021September 2022Allow1210NoNo
17466350VEHICLE DRIVELINE COMPONENT HAVING HOUSING ASSEMBLY WITH SLUGS FOR INHIBITING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN A HOUSING MEMBER AND A TUBESeptember 2021December 2022Allow1521YesNo
17465677BODY FRAME MEMBER AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING BODY FRAME MEMBERSeptember 2021May 2025Allow4451YesNo
17465538FRAME MANUFACTURING METHODSeptember 2021April 2023Abandon1920NoNo
17433452METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A MOTOR VEHICLE HEATING, VENTILATION AND/OR AIR CONDITIONING DEVICEAugust 2021November 2023Allow2730YesNo
17404724COSMETIC CONTAINERS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTUREAugust 2021September 2022Allow1311YesNo
17402485APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DECONSTRUCTING MATTRESSESAugust 2021September 2022Allow1301YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner HOTCHKISS, MICHAEL WAYNE.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
3
Examiner Affirmed
1
(33.3%)
Examiner Reversed
2
(66.7%)
Reversal Percentile
87.5%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 66.7% 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
9
Allowed After Appeal Filing
5
(55.6%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
4
(44.4%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
85.9%
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, 55.6% 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 HOTCHKISS, MICHAEL WAYNE - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner HOTCHKISS, MICHAEL WAYNE works in Art Unit 3726 and has examined 346 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 70.8%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 29 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner HOTCHKISS, MICHAEL WAYNE's allowance rate of 70.8% places them in the 25% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by HOTCHKISS, MICHAEL WAYNE receive 2.18 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 74% 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 HOTCHKISS, MICHAEL WAYNE is 29 months. This places the examiner in the 49% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly slower than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +57.2% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by HOTCHKISS, MICHAEL WAYNE. This interview benefit is in the 96% 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, 28.3% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 41% 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 31.2% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 38% 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, 66.7% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 55% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: Pre-appeal conferences show above-average effectiveness with this examiner. If you have strong arguments, a PAC request may result in favorable reconsideration.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 62.5% of appeals filed. This is in the 36% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 20.0% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). Strategic Insight: This examiner shows below-average willingness to reconsider rejections during appeals. Be prepared to fully prosecute appeals if filed.

Petition Practice

When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 37.5% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 34% 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 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 38% 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 2.4% of allowed cases (in the 68% 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:

  • 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.

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.