USPTO Examiner SMITH JACOB A - Art Unit 3731

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19169268HAMMER DRILLApril 2025October 2025Allow700NoNo
19068239STRAP-FEEDING ASSEMBLY WITH STRAP-SIZE-ADJUSTMENT FEATURESMarch 2025February 2026Allow1200NoNo
19065586Driving ToolFebruary 2025October 2025Allow800NoNo
19022263PHARMACEUTICAL COUNTING AND PACKAGING DEVICEJanuary 2025February 2026Allow1310NoNo
19013321POWER TOOL HAVING A HAMMER MECHANISMJanuary 2025October 2025Allow1000NoNo
19011002DUAL-MODE STAPLERJanuary 2025October 2025Allow900NoNo
18990781POWER TOOL CONTROL SYSTEMDecember 2024January 2026Allow1300YesNo
18874863BLANK JOINING MODULE WITH REGISTER CONTROLDecember 2024January 2026Allow1310NoNo
18874705BLANK JOINING MODULEDecember 2024September 2025Allow900NoNo
18973664Presser Assembly With Magnetic BiasingDecember 2024August 2025Allow800NoNo
18967963apparatus for treating continuous moving webs and a machine comprising this apparatusDecember 2024August 2025Allow900NoNo
18870438AN APPARATUS FOR REALISING AT LEAST TWO CONTINUOUS CARDBOARD STRIPS OF DIFFERENT WIDTH FOR PACKAGING BY CONSECUTIVELY JOINING A RESPECTIVE PLURALITY OF CARDBOARD SHEETS FOR PACKAGING OF DIFFERENT WIDTH TO ONE ANOTHERNovember 2024August 2025Allow800NoNo
18963214STATIONS FOR FORMING HEAT SEALS IN ENVELOPESNovember 2024December 2025Allow1301NoNo
18960164METHOD OF PRODUCING RIGID PACKAGE MATERIAL AND RIGID BOX FROM TEXTILE WASTENovember 2024November 2025Allow1100NoNo
18947487Methods And Systems For Forming TraysNovember 2024August 2025Allow900NoNo
18942144CLOSING APPARATUS FOR CLOSING A CONTAINER WITH A CONTAINER CLOSURE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING A CLOSING APPARATUSNovember 2024November 2025Allow1210NoNo
18863933CAPPING HEAD BODY, CAPPING HEAD, SPINDLE ASSEMBLY, CAPPING DEVICE, AND CAPPING SYSTEMNovember 2024July 2025Allow900YesNo
18860563HYDRAULIC TOOLS, SYSTEMS FOR TOOLS, AND METHODS OF USE OR CONTROL OF SAMEOctober 2024March 2026Allow1610NoNo
18916820APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING A DOUBLE WALL PAPER CUPOctober 2024January 2025Allow300NoNo
18856060ELECTRIC TOOLOctober 2024November 2025Allow1310NoNo
18911666METHOD FOR ASSISTING A DISTRIBUTION PROCESS BY MEANS OF A DISTRIBUTION TOOL ON A UTILITY VEHICLEOctober 2024August 2025Allow1000NoNo
18850641Counter-current double-flow pasteurizer with conditioning controlSeptember 2024July 2025Allow900NoNo
18849781CORNET CONE TIP CRIMPING MACHINESeptember 2024June 2025Allow900NoNo
18830904DEVICES FOR CAPPING VIALS USEFUL IN SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING PRESCRIPTIONSSeptember 2024December 2025Allow1501NoNo
18816865Capping And De-Capping Apparatus And A Method Of Operating Such An ApparatusAugust 2024August 2025Allow1100NoNo
18841468Round baler net wrapAugust 2024June 2025Allow1000NoNo
18808705POWERED FASTENER DRIVERAugust 2024September 2025Allow1301NoNo
18807122POWER TOOL OPERATION RECORDING AND PLAYBACKAugust 2024February 2026Allow1811NoNo
18792228ANTI-BUCKLING ACTUATION MEMBERS FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENTAugust 2024June 2025Allow1000NoNo
18788120SEALED BAG BASED ON FOLDING PROCESS AND PROCESSING METHOD THEREOFJuly 2024June 2025Allow1100NoNo
18777981COUPLING UNIT, COUPLING METHOD AND COUPLING APPARATUS FOR THE COUPLING BETWEEN A COMPONENT AND A CONTAINERJuly 2024May 2025Allow1000YesNo
18730603BULK METALLIC GLASS COMPONENTS FOR A POWER TOOLJuly 2024July 2025Allow1200NoNo
18758277SURGICAL STAPLER HAVING CONTROLLABLE SHAFT BIASJune 2024February 2026Allow2000YesNo
18724690APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY PRODUCING TUBULAR ELEMENTSJune 2024May 2025Allow1100YesNo
18752512HAND-HELD PULLING AND COMPRESSION DEVICE AND HYDRAULIC ACTUATORJune 2024October 2025Allow1500NoNo
18722006FILL MATERIAL CUTTING SYSTEMS FOR PARTIALLY OR FULLY CUTTING FILL MATERIALJune 2024June 2025Allow1110NoNo
18738354PLANT FOR FILLING AND CLOSING CANS UNDER HYGIENIC CONDITIONSJune 2024October 2025Allow1601YesNo
18737549DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING PLUMP PACKAGES FILLED WITH LIQUID OR PASTY FILLING MATERIALJune 2024September 2025Allow1510NoNo
18735305ROUND BALE GROUND PLACEMENT ORIENTATION DURING BALER EJECTIONJune 2024April 2025Allow1000NoNo
18736272APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MOLDING AND PRESSING A CLOSURE COMPRISING FIBERSJune 2024March 2026Abandon2110NoNo
18732654MANUFACTURING DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR FILLER ELEMENT USED IN FLAVOR INHALATION ARTICLEJune 2024July 2025Allow1401NoNo
18713114CONTAINER FEEDING SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING CONTAINER, AS WELL AS PROCESSING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING CONTAINERMay 2024September 2025Allow1610NoNo
18669034Box Erecting DeviceMay 2024November 2025Allow1801NoNo
18711166PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A CONTAINER FOR THE PREPARATION OF A BEVERAGE IN A BEVERAGE PREPARATION DEVICE AND A CONTAINER OBTAINED BY SAID PROCESSMay 2024April 2025Allow1100NoNo
18710362CLOTHES FOLDING MACHINEMay 2024April 2025Allow1100NoNo
18660500DRIVING TOOLMay 2024April 2025Allow1200NoNo
18707022MECHANISM AND METHOD FOR CUTTING A SLEEVEMay 2024July 2025Allow1510NoNo
18653072AUTOMATIC SYSTEM HEAT FUSION-TYPE BINDING MACHINE FOR GARDENING AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOFMay 2024June 2025Allow1400NoNo
18647642BINDING MACHINEApril 2024September 2025Allow1610NoNo
18642022CLEANING, FILLING, AND CAPPING CONTAINERSApril 2024April 2025Allow1100NoNo
18702034METHOD FOR PRODUCING PAPER SACKS AND PAPER SACKSApril 2024July 2025Allow1510NoNo
18635927PHASED INTERMESHING ROLLERS FOR CREATING PATTERNS IN TRASH BAGSApril 2024July 2025Allow1511YesNo
18630730ROTARY IMPACT TOOLApril 2024March 2025Allow1100NoNo
18627650CONTENT-FILLING SYSTEM AND STERILIZING METHODApril 2024October 2025Allow1801NoNo
18695629MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING DISPOSABLE CUPSMarch 2024March 2025Allow1200YesNo
18586827SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FOLDING AND RETAINING BOX FLAPSFebruary 2024December 2025Allow2201NoNo
18443714POWERED FASTENER DRIVERFebruary 2024October 2025Allow2011NoNo
18439669DUNNAGE CUT-ASSIST BIASING MEMBERFebruary 2024February 2025Allow1210NoNo
18439068NAIL DRIVING TOOLFebruary 2024April 2025Abandon1401NoNo
18437433MULTI-CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE TECHNOLOGIESFebruary 2024June 2025Allow1600NoNo
18414553PROCESS FOR PACKAGING ABSORBENT ARTICLES ON A HIGH-SPEED MANUFACTURING LINEJanuary 2024December 2025Abandon2310NoNo
18408083OFFSET IMPACT MECHANISM FOR A HAMMER TOOLJanuary 2024September 2025Allow2010NoNo
18535681RECYCLABLE COMPOSTABLE PAPER BAGDecember 2023February 2026Allow2611NoNo
18528110METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PRODUCING PRESSWAREDecember 2023September 2025Allow2111NoNo
18509348AUTOMATIC PACKAGING BAG PRODUCTION DEVICE AND METHODNovember 2023March 2024Allow400NoNo
18500398LINEAR SURGICAL STAPLERNovember 2023June 2025Allow1901NoNo
18381878SURGICAL SYSTEMS COMPRISING A CONTROL CIRCUITOctober 2023June 2024Allow800NoNo
18483327DEEP-DRAWING APPARATUS AND PACKAGING MACHINE HAVING A DEEP-DRAWING APPARATUSOctober 2023October 2024Allow1200NoNo
18554329DRONE FOR EMERGENCY SITUATION AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAMEOctober 2023October 2025Abandon2410NoNo
18472871STAPLERSeptember 2023July 2025Allow2210NoNo
18473028Capping And De-Capping Apparatus And A Method Of Operating Such An ApparatusSeptember 2023May 2024Allow800NoNo
18370585HYBRID INSERTER/WRAPPER SYSTEMSeptember 2023March 2025Allow1800NoNo
18465119PACKAGING SYSTEMSeptember 2023August 2025Allow2301NoNo
18244803METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONTAINERSSeptember 2023October 2025Allow2501NoNo
18464922POWERED FASTENER DRIVERSeptember 2023April 2024Allow700NoNo
18550058MACHINE FOR PACKAGING GROUPS OF PRODUCTS IN A ROLLSeptember 2023February 2025Allow1710NoNo
18243705FOOD PROCESSING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR RESTRICTING PROCESSES ACTIVATABLE BY AN OPERATOR AT A FOOD PROCESSING MACHINESeptember 2023October 2024Allow1300NoNo
18460967NON-CONTACT SPEED SELECTOR SWTICH IN ROTARY POWER TOOLSeptember 2023September 2024Allow1210NoNo
18460598OPTIMIZED NAIL GUN FIRING STRUCTURESeptember 2023March 2025Abandon1810NoNo
18459786LONG STAPLER RELOADS WITH CONTINUOUS CARTRIDGESeptember 2023March 2024Allow700NoNo
18548295ENVELOPE PROCESSING APPARATUS, ENCLOSING-SEALING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING SYSTEMAugust 2023February 2025Allow1810YesNo
18455412DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING AND TREATING A CONTAINER OF A MATERIAL COMPRISING FIBERS IN A MOLDAugust 2023October 2025Abandon2510NoNo
18452065POWERED FASTENER DRIVERAugust 2023June 2025Allow2201NoNo
18452324POWER TOOL OPERATION RECORDING AND PLAYBACKAugust 2023April 2024Allow800NoNo
18234722BOTTLE ADAPTER PRESS AND RELATED SYSTEM AND METHODAugust 2023March 2025Allow1910NoNo
18448273POWER TOOLAugust 2023September 2024Allow1300NoNo
18230425METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ERECTING CARTONS AND FOR ORDER FULFILMENT AND PACKINGAugust 2023September 2025Allow2501NoNo
18230195Packaging Container And A Method Of Producing Such A Packaging ContainerAugust 2023July 2025Allow2401YesNo
18227947Tuck Top Shipping Mailer BoxJuly 2023November 2025Allow2711YesNo
18355837HANDLING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FILLING ONE OR SEVERAL PRODUCT RECEIVING CONTAINERS WITH PRODUCTS AND PACKAGING MACHINE WITH SUCH A HANDLING DEVICEJuly 2023March 2025Abandon1910NoNo
18354875HEAT SEALING DEVICEJuly 2023February 2025Allow1910NoNo
18353303Adaptable Tooling Methods, System and ApparatusesJuly 2023February 2024Allow700NoNo
18221466APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING A LOAD AND ASSOCIATED METHODSJuly 2023May 2024Allow1010NoNo
18221460APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING A LOAD AND ASSOCIATED METHODSJuly 2023May 2024Allow1010NoNo
18351376DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FORMING AND PRESSING A MOUTH PIECE OF A CONTAINER COMPRISING FIBERSJuly 2023August 2024Allow1300NoNo
18221125PACKER MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF POUCHES EACH CONTAINING A PORTION OF A LOOSE PRODUCTJuly 2023August 2024Allow1300NoNo
18219442ELECTRIC WORK MACHINEJuly 2023May 2025Allow2310NoNo
18218515FEEDING DEVICE FOR SEALERJuly 2023February 2025Allow2010NoNo
18344477METHOD OF USING A POWERED STAPLING DEVICEJune 2023June 2025Allow2310NoNo
18343288APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR VACUUMIZING AND SEALING A PACKAGEJune 2023January 2024Allow700YesNo

Appeals Overview

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

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
5
Examiner Affirmed
3
(60.0%)
Examiner Reversed
2
(40.0%)
Reversal Percentile
63.1%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 40.0% reversal rate, the PTAB reverses the examiner's rejections in a meaningful percentage of cases. This reversal rate is above the USPTO average, indicating that appeals have better success here than typical.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
12
Allowed After Appeal Filing
5
(41.7%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
7
(58.3%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
69.5%
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, 41.7% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is above the USPTO average, suggesting that filing an appeal can be an effective strategy for prompting 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 is strategically valuable. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.

Examiner SMITH, JACOB A - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner SMITH, JACOB A works in Art Unit 3731 and has examined 260 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 79.6%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 29 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner SMITH, JACOB A's allowance rate of 79.6% places them in the 49% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by SMITH, JACOB A receive 1.65 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 33% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues fewer office actions than average, which may indicate efficient prosecution or a more lenient examination style.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by SMITH, JACOB A is 29 months. This places the examiner in the 66% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +22.4% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by SMITH, JACOB A. This interview benefit is in the 68% 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, 36.0% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 81% 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 28.8% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 41% 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, 75.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 61% 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 68.8% of appeals filed. This is in the 55% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 36.4% 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, 56.2% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 58% 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:

  • 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.

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.