USPTO Examiner IGBOKWE NICHOLAS E - Art Unit 3731

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19066247APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZED CONTAINER CONSTRUCTIONFebruary 2025October 2025Allow711NoNo
19040946Paperboard Packaging Container And LidJanuary 2025February 2026Allow1300NoNo
19037149BAGMAKING AND PACKAGING APPARATUSJanuary 2025January 2026Allow1200NoNo
18874088ELECTRIC TOOLDecember 2024March 2026Allow1510NoNo
18871932CAPSULE FILLING APPARATUSDecember 2024March 2026Allow1510NoNo
18953197DEVICE FOR SHRINKING HOT-SHRINK FILM PLACED AROUND PALLETIZED STACK OF GOODS AND METHOD FOR SHRINKING HOT-SHRINK FILM PLACED AROUND PALLETIZED STACK OF GOODSNovember 2024March 2026Allow1610NoNo
18865664PACKAGING UNIT FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES INTO BOXES AND RELATIVE PACKAGING METHODNovember 2024February 2026Allow1510NoNo
18860073CONTAINER OPENEROctober 2024February 2026Allow1510NoNo
18847631METHOD AND ASSEMBLY OF WINDING ONE OR MORE BUNDLES WITH STRETCH FILM FROM A REELSeptember 2024November 2025Allow1400YesNo
18827896PLASTIC BAG PACKAGING AND SEPARATING DEVICE FOR INTELLIGENT PACKAGING TOILETSeptember 2024October 2025Allow1410NoNo
18843476DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ASEPTIC FILLING OF PACKAGESSeptember 2024March 2026Abandon1810NoNo
18840793DEVICE AND MACHINE FOR FORMING BOXES WITH INTERNAL PARTITION WALL AND RELATIVE METHODAugust 2024July 2025Allow1100NoNo
18838660ROTATING AND TRANSLATING CAPPING HEAD WITH STATIC DRIVE ASSEMBLYAugust 2024November 2025Allow1500NoNo
18835593Machine for joining sheet material, preferably cardboardAugust 2024February 2026Allow1810NoNo
18785703ORTHOPEDIC ADAPTER FOR AN ELECTRIC IMPACTING TOOLJuly 2024February 2025Allow720NoNo
18678882STAPLERMay 2024April 2025Allow1100NoNo
18670331POWER TOOL COMBINATION AND AUXILIARY HANDLEMay 2024August 2025Allow1510NoNo
18664808METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING A BLISTER TUBE, AND BLISTER TUBEMay 2024February 2025Allow910NoNo
18660285CAN LINER SYSTEM AND RE-STACKER ASSEMBLY THEREFORMay 2024February 2026Allow2120NoNo
18658430SELF-ACTUATING MECHANICALLY-BIASED CONTAINER RESTRAINTMay 2024December 2024Allow700NoNo
18646136METHOD FOR OPERATING A PACKAGING LINE, AND PACKAGING LINEApril 2024December 2025Allow2011YesNo
18632600PACKAGING SOLUTIONSApril 2024June 2025Allow1410NoNo
18699423METHOD, APPLICATION DEVICE, AND PACKAGING DEVICE FOR PRODUCING STRAPPED PACKAGESApril 2024September 2025Allow1700NoNo
18612945EQUIPMENT FOR SEPARATING CAPS FROM THEIR CONDITIONING TRAYMarch 2024October 2025Allow1910NoNo
18692393ARRANGEMENT FOR A CORRUGATORMarch 2024October 2025Allow1910YesNo
18586916SLIT-SHEET-PAPER EXPANSION SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING FRICTION BRUSH(ES) AND/OR OTHER FRICTION MEMBER(S)February 2024March 2026Allow2410NoNo
18584036POWERED CIRCULAR STAPLER WITH RECIPROCATING DRIVE MEMBER TO PROVIDE INDEPENDENT STAPLING AND CUTTING OF TISSUEFebruary 2024December 2025Allow2110YesNo
18444618CONVEYING OF A CAPPING ELEMENTFebruary 2024September 2025Allow1910NoNo
18433905ORTHOPEDIC ADAPTER FOR AN ELECTRIC IMPACTING TOOLFebruary 2024June 2025Allow1710NoNo
18681510Production method for producing packs of cans and relative production lineFebruary 2024May 2025Allow1500NoNo
18422877Vacuum sealerJanuary 2024May 2025Allow1500NoNo
18405288ELECTRONIC LOCKOUT SELECTIONS FOR A SURGICAL SYSTEMJanuary 2024November 2025Allow2210NoNo
18396699BAGMAKING AND PACKAGING APPARATUS AND WEIGHING AND PACKAGING SYSTEMDecember 2023August 2025Allow2010NoNo
18541756DEPTH AND ANGLE SENSOR ATTACHMENT FOR A POWER TOOLDecember 2023December 2025Allow2420YesNo
18569766STRETCH-HOOD MACHINE WITH FILM-EVALUATION FEATUREDecember 2023January 2025Allow1300NoNo
18533409END FLAP ENGAGEMENT ASSEMBLY FOR ERECTING CARTONS AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODSDecember 2023September 2025Allow2110NoNo
18565004METHODS OF MAKING SLEEVED HYDROPHILIC CATHETER PRODUCTSNovember 2023October 2025Allow2310NoNo
18517311IMPACT TOOL AND DUST COLLECTION SYSTEMNovember 2023March 2025Allow1610YesNo
18561464Assembly and method for the automated folding of corners of a boxNovember 2023April 2025Allow1700NoNo
18508243BAGMAKING AND PACKAGING APPARATUSNovember 2023September 2025Allow2220YesNo
18508298PERCUSSION TOOLNovember 2023July 2025Allow2010NoNo
18554249APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING PRODUCTSOctober 2023July 2025Allow2110NoNo
18284544PACKAGING MACHINESeptember 2023June 2025Allow2110NoNo
18367832ACCESSING DATA STORED IN A MEMORY OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENTSeptember 2023October 2024Abandon1310NoNo
18549861IMPACT TOOLSeptember 2023March 2025Allow1910NoNo
18459751PACKAGING MATERIAL SEALING DEVICE, PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A PACKAGING MATERIAL SEALING DEVICESeptember 2023March 2025Allow1810YesNo
18240515HANDHELD POWER TOOLAugust 2023March 2025Allow1910NoNo
18360865ENCLOSING DEVICE, ENCLOSING-SEALING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEMJuly 2023March 2025Allow2010NoNo
18270927ELECTRIC TOOLJuly 2023March 2025Allow2000NoNo
18339918METHOD AND TOOL FOR EMBOSSING OF BIODEGRADABLE PAPER TO FABRICATE CIGARETTE FILTERSJune 2023August 2025Allow2510NoNo
18337689ELECTRICALLY-DRIVEN TOOL AND METHOD FOR AN ELECTRICALLY-DRIVEN TOOL TO DETECT BATTERY DECLINEJune 2023November 2024Allow1701NoNo
18266300CONTAINER AND DISPENSING SYSTEM FOR EXPANDED SLIT PAPERJune 2023April 2025Allow2210NoNo
18198474TISSUE RELAXATION MONITORING FOR OPTIMIZED TISSUE STAPLINGMay 2023June 2024Allow1310NoNo
18252521MACHINE BLOCK AND METHOD FOR FILLING BOTTLES WITH LIQUID PRODUCTSMay 2023January 2025Allow2010NoNo
18195310BLANK FOR FOLDING TO FORM A SPOON OR A FORKMay 2023May 2025Allow2531YesYes
18303720POWER TOOLApril 2023September 2024Allow1710YesNo
18032391Expansible Press Plunger, An Attachment Unit For Attaching A Container Element To A Container Body And A Method For Sealing A Packaging ContainerApril 2023June 2025Allow2610NoNo
18031437AN APPARATUS FOR REMOVING AND PACKAGING ELASTOMERIC ARTICLESApril 2023March 2025Allow2310NoNo
18127085POWERED FASTENER DRIVERMarch 2023March 2025Allow2310YesNo
18127269FASTENER DRIVING TOOL TRIGGER ASSEMBLYMarch 2023May 2024Allow1400NoNo
18125587PNEUMATIC DRILL SYSTEM AND FOREIGN OBJECT DEBRIS COLLECTION DRILL ATTACHMENTMarch 2023October 2024Allow1910YesNo
18189098Dual-purpose crown cap-removing and jewelry deviceMarch 2023April 2025Allow2510NoNo
18043750THERMOFORMED CELLULOSE-BASED FOOD PACKAGINGMarch 2023September 2025Abandon3120NoNo
18022197DEVICE FOR MACHINING A WORKPIECE EQUIPPED WITH AN AIR SYSTEMFebruary 2023July 2024Allow1710NoNo
18109562SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING CONDITION INFORMATION THEREOFFebruary 2023August 2024Allow1830YesNo
18020978A WEB OF BAGS WITH GUIDE AND BAGS OF DIFFERENT MATERIALSFebruary 2023November 2024Allow2110NoNo
18007108APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING A CONTAINERJanuary 2023August 2024Allow1910NoNo
18088179APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TREATING AND IN PARTICULAR STERILISING CONTAINERSDecember 2022January 2025Allow2530NoNo
18086527SEALING STATION FOR SEALING PACKAGING UNITSDecember 2022November 2023Allow1010NoNo
17999416CREASING TOOL AND METHOD OF CREATING CREASE LINESNovember 2022September 2024Allow2210NoNo
17924349DEFECT DETECTING DEVICE AND BAG MAKING APPARATUSNovember 2022June 2024Allow2000NoNo
17961029ADAPTIVE IMPACT BLOW DETECTIONOctober 2022November 2023Allow1310NoNo
17937166DEVICE FOR MANUFACTURING DOUBLE WALLED PAPER CUPSSeptember 2022August 2024Allow2300NoNo
17915882Socket Holding Device for Power ToolSeptember 2022August 2025Allow3420NoNo
17945449Valve Seat Removal Impact Driver Attachment DeviceSeptember 2022July 2024Allow2210NoNo
17942811FASTENING TOOLSeptember 2022June 2024Allow2120NoNo
17940551SLIDE MEASURING SYSTEM FOR FILLING POUCHES AND ASSOCIATED METHODSeptember 2022January 2025Allow2810NoNo
17800855METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PAPER STRAWSAugust 2022January 2025Abandon2910NoNo
17818130Can Liner System and Re-Stacker Assembly ThereforAugust 2022February 2024Allow1820NoNo
17881407ISOLATOR SYSTEM FOR FILLING A CONTAINER WITH A LIQUID, TRANSFER STATION FOR TRANSFERRING A CONTAINER AND METHOD THEREFORAugust 2022November 2024Allow2811NoNo
17796396A FILLING MACHINE WITH A STERILISATION STATIONJuly 2022May 2024Allow2110NoNo
17876155Device For Vacuum Stoppering A Medical ContainerJuly 2022January 2024Allow1820NoNo
17790035SEAMING SHAFT DEVICE FOR A SEALERJune 2022December 2023Allow1810NoNo
17790076GASSING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GASSING A CONTAINERJune 2022February 2024Allow1910NoNo
17846307IMPACT TOOLJune 2022September 2023Allow1520YesNo
17783413WORKING TOOLJune 2022September 2024Allow2810NoNo
17781458Electric power tool having a rotating toolJune 2022November 2025Abandon4240YesNo
17780309CARTON LIDDING AND STACKING APPARATUS AND PROCESSMay 2022September 2023Allow1601YesNo
17824432IMPACT TOOL AND DUST COLLECTION SYSTEMMay 2022August 2023Allow1510NoNo
17739608SURGICAL LOADING UNIT INCLUDING AN ARTICULATING END EFFECTORMay 2022March 2023Allow1110NoNo
17755518PICK AND PLACE DEVICE FOR AN APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CLOSING ARTICLESApril 2022January 2025Allow3211NoNo
17733425MAILER FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FORMINGApril 2022August 2024Allow2810NoNo
17755437PLANT FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES, IN PARTICULAR CONTAINERS, COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO MODULAR APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CLOSING RANDOMLY FED ARTICLESApril 2022August 2024Allow2710NoNo
17726085DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING READY-CUT AND FILLED HOSE PIECESApril 2022February 2025Allow3411NoNo
17725922IMPACT MECHANISM FOR A HAMMER TOOLApril 2022January 2025Allow3340NoNo
17715820SYRINGE PREFILLED WITH PHARMACEUTICAL FLUIDApril 2022December 2023Abandon2010NoNo
17754641SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WRAPPING LOADS OF GOODS WITH TUBULAR STRETCH FILMApril 2022April 2024Allow2420NoNo
17766899ELECTRIC TOOLApril 2022March 2024Allow2310NoNo
17714393PACKAGING SOLUTIONSApril 2022April 2024Allow2411YesNo
17764951ELECTRIC TOOL AND BATTERY PACKMarch 2022January 2025Abandon3420NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner IGBOKWE, NICHOLAS E.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
1
Examiner Affirmed
0
(0.0%)
Examiner Reversed
1
(100.0%)
Reversal Percentile
98.8%
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
2
(50.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
2
(50.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
83.4%
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, 50.0% 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 IGBOKWE, NICHOLAS E - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner IGBOKWE, NICHOLAS E works in Art Unit 3731 and has examined 286 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 79.0%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 31 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner IGBOKWE, NICHOLAS E's allowance rate of 79.0% places them in the 48% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by IGBOKWE, NICHOLAS E receive 1.43 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 23% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues significantly fewer office actions than most examiners.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by IGBOKWE, NICHOLAS E is 31 months. This places the examiner in the 57% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +18.4% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by IGBOKWE, NICHOLAS E. This interview benefit is in the 61% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide an above-average benefit with this examiner and are worth considering.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 35.1% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 78% 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 50.9% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 77% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner is highly receptive to after-final amendments compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 714.12, after-final amendments may be entered "under justifiable circumstances." Consider filing after-final amendments with a clear showing of allowability rather than immediately filing an RCE, as this examiner frequently enters such amendments.

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 99% 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, 50.0% 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, 66.7% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 74% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions show above-average success regarding this examiner's actions. Petitionable matters include restriction requirements (MPEP § 1002.02(c)(2)) and various procedural issues.

Examiner Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 42% 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 46% 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:

  • Consider after-final amendments: This examiner frequently enters after-final amendments. If you can clearly overcome rejections with claim amendments, file an after-final amendment before resorting to an RCE.
  • 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.

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.