USPTO Examiner WITTENSCHLAEGER THOMAS M - Art Unit 3731

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19194885BALE WRAP ASSEMBLY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR AN AGRICULTURAL HARVESTERApril 2025March 2026Allow1000NoNo
19081141SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING ANVIL POSITION USING A RELIEF FEATUREMarch 2025February 2026Allow1100YesNo
19099640APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY FORMING CASINGS FOR SMOKING ARTICLES INCLUDING A FILTERJanuary 2025December 2025Allow1100NoNo
19027743Cotton Module Unwrapping Systems, Methods, and ApparatusesJanuary 2025January 2026Allow1200NoNo
19011979METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING PAPER CONTAINERJanuary 2025March 2026Allow1410NoNo
18991771TELESCOPIC FLANGING INNER EXPANSION ASSEMBLY AND FLANGING DEVICEDecember 2024November 2025Allow1000NoNo
18877801ROBOT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COIL PACKAGING WITH DIFFERENT ANGULAR VELOCITIESDecember 2024October 2025Allow1000YesNo
18876885METHOD AND PACKAGING DEVICE FOR PRODUCING PACKAGING UNITS, AND APPLICATION HEAD FOR CORRESPONDING USEDecember 2024February 2026Allow1410NoNo
18976742TECHNIQUES FOR ADAPTIVE CONTROL OF MOTOR VELOCITY OF A SURGICAL STAPLING AND CUTTING INSTRUMENTDecember 2024February 2026Allow1410YesNo
18268309HIGH-SPEED FILLING AND PLUGGING SYSTEM AND FILLING AND PLUGGING METHOD THEREOFDecember 2024September 2025Allow2700NoNo
18870720METHOD FOR REDUCING AN INITIAL HEIGHT OF A PACKAGE, SUCH AS A SLOTTED CONTAINER, ACCORDING TO ITS CONTENTS, AND DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT SUCH A METHODDecember 2024January 2026Allow1410NoNo
18963238SHRINK WRAPPER MACHINENovember 2024September 2025Allow900NoNo
18957200Gripper-bender device and modular gripper assemblyNovember 2024February 2026Allow1410NoNo
18933711SURGICAL STAPLER WITH EXPANDABLE JAWOctober 2024December 2025Allow1410NoNo
18931704VACUUM PACKAGE MACHINEOctober 2024October 2025Allow1100YesNo
18860054A Crimping Device for Safely Disposing a Continuous Liner Bag Containing Toxic MaterialOctober 2024March 2026Allow1620NoNo
18849900CORNET CONE PACKAGE CUTTING MACHINE FROM PACKAGE BOBBINSeptember 2024November 2025Allow1300NoNo
18737262ENDOSCOPIC PURSE STRING SUTURE SURGICAL DEVICEJune 2024February 2026Allow2010NoNo
18747217METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASEPTICALLY FILLING A PACKAGEJune 2024November 2025Allow1710NoNo
18733005JAW OPENING FEATURE FOR SURGICAL STAPLERJune 2024December 2025Allow1810NoNo
18732006METHOD FOR FORMING A CONTAINERJune 2024August 2025Allow1410NoNo
18635430DIRECT TO CONTAINER SYSTEM WITH ON-LINE WEIGHT CONTROL AND ASSOCIATED METHODApril 2024October 2025Allow1810NoNo
18695978FORMING STATION WITH GUIDE WALLMarch 2024March 2026Allow2420YesNo
18692571APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR WRAPPING A CARDBOARD BOXMarch 2024January 2026Allow2210NoNo
18581229CARTONING MACHINE FOR MULTIPLE, DIFFERENT CARTON CONFIGURATIONS AND METHOD OF USEFebruary 2024November 2025Allow2110NoNo
18581338MAILER MACHINE FOR MULTIPLE, DIFFERENT MAILER CONFIGURATIONS AND METHOD OF USEFebruary 2024February 2026Allow2410NoNo
18434176CLOSING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CLOSING FOLDABLE PACKAGESFebruary 2024November 2025Allow2110NoNo
18433488VACUUM KIT ADAPTED FOR A CONTAINER AND RELATED VACUUM PRODUCTFebruary 2024July 2025Allow1700NoNo
18427301BOX FOLDING MACHINEJanuary 2024June 2025Allow1700NoNo
18415393BOX ERECTING APPARATUS AND METHODJanuary 2024June 2025Allow1710NoNo
18575090APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING PAPER STRAWSDecember 2023August 2025Allow1900YesNo
18397201POWERED FASTENER DRIVERDecember 2023January 2025Allow1300NoNo
18392652APPARATUS FOR THE MANUAL OR MACHINE PRODUCTION OF A TUBE-LIKE PACKAGING MATERIAL AND PACKING STATIONDecember 2023April 2025Allow1510NoNo
18540729BOX FORMING APPARATUSDecember 2023November 2025Allow2310NoNo
18477131Method and System for Forming Domed Paper and StructuresDecember 2023December 2025Allow2710NoNo
18563313DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPENING PLASTIC BAGNovember 2023June 2025Allow1910YesNo
18290098TOP FORMING PART CREASE APPLYING MECHANISM FOR PAPER CONTAINER TOP FORMING DEVICENovember 2023August 2025Allow2110NoNo
18502464UNCLAMPED FIRING LOCKOUT FOR LINEAR SURGICAL STAPLERNovember 2023February 2025Allow1610YesNo
18497724POWER TOOL INCLUDING A BATTERY PACK ISOLATION SYSTEMOctober 2023February 2025Allow1610NoNo
18557626ARRANGEMENT FOR PRODUCING A CORRUGATED BOARD WEB LAMINATED ON BOTH SIDESOctober 2023June 2025Allow2010NoNo
18492907Method for Indicating Whether a Hand-Held Power Tool has Reached a TargetOctober 2023February 2025Allow1610NoNo
18380398RECIPROCATING TOOLOctober 2023August 2025Allow2220YesNo
18554439Packaging machine with dynamic buffer and its assembly methodOctober 2023December 2024Allow1400NoNo
18469090SHEET ROLLING DEVICESeptember 2023September 2024Allow1200NoNo
18550835A HANDLE FOR USE WITH A POWER TOOLSeptember 2023May 2025Allow2020NoNo
18467056DUNNAGE CONVERTER OUTPUT CHUTE SAFETY MECHANISMSeptember 2023July 2025Allow2220NoNo
18278270PYROTECHNIC DRIVING DEVICEAugust 2023June 2025Allow2110YesNo
18363206METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PRODUCING PRESSWAREAugust 2023December 2024Allow1610NoNo
18226512METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PACKAGING A PRODUCT INTO FLEXIBLE PACKAGES IN A STERILE ENVIRONMENTJuly 2023August 2025Abandon2520NoNo
18260877MULTILAYER BODY, AND PACKAGE USING SAMEJuly 2023July 2025Allow2500NoNo
18219596COMPOSITE MATERIAL WITH COATING LAYERJuly 2023January 2026Allow3010NoNo
18212731Retrieval System and Method for Operating a Retrieval SystemJune 2023July 2025Allow2520NoNo
18330772ATRAUMATIC STAPLING HEAD FEATURES FOR CIRCULAR SURGICAL STAPLERJune 2023June 2025Allow2410YesNo
18327445PACKAGING MACHINE AND SYSTEMSJune 2023June 2025Abandon2510NoNo
18326757POWERED FASTENER DRIVERMay 2023May 2025Allow2420YesNo
18325010PACKAGING APPARATUSMay 2023October 2025Allow2830NoNo
18324769IMPACT ROTARY TOOLMay 2023September 2024Allow1600NoNo
18038474Handle for a power tool, power tool, and methods for switching on, switching off and locking sameMay 2023April 2025Abandon2310NoNo
18321119POWER TOOLMay 2023November 2025Allow3020YesNo
18196365Magnetically Detachable Stapler DeviceMay 2023August 2025Allow2720NoNo
18144211Vibratory grouting drilling rig with auxiliary moving mechanismMay 2023August 2024Allow1600NoNo
18307237Apparatus for Bagging a Bale and Method of Bagging Such BaleApril 2023October 2025Allow3020NoNo
18033797HEAT SEAL DEVICE AND BAG MAKING APPARATUSApril 2023August 2024Allow1600NoNo
18137792TECHNIQUES FOR ADAPTIVE CONTROL OF MOTOR VELOCITY OF A SURGICAL STAPLING AND CUTTING INSTRUMENTApril 2023April 2024Allow1200NoNo
18136639PERCUSSION APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH A PRESSURE REGULATING DEVICEApril 2023August 2024Allow1600NoNo
18032093MOBILE POWER TOOL HAVING AN AQUEOUS LUBRICANT, AND USE OF THE MOBILE POWER TOOLApril 2023August 2024Allow1720NoNo
18030703ADAPTER FOR CONNECTING A VACUUM SYSTEM TO A CONTAINER AND CONTAINER THEREWITHApril 2023April 2025Abandon2510NoNo
18129284SURGICAL RELOADABLE CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLYMarch 2023January 2025Allow2220YesNo
18193485COILER FOR A DUNNAGE CONVERSION MACHINE AND METHOD FOR COILING A STRIP OF DUNNAGEMarch 2023November 2024Allow2010NoNo
18190528RECIPROCATING IMPACT HAMMERMarch 2023September 2024Allow1810NoNo
18124750QUICK CHANGE PNEUMATIC HAMMERMarch 2023June 2025Allow2620YesNo
18027867METHOD FOR GROUPING A PLURALITY OF OBJECTS TO BE MOVEDMarch 2023February 2025Allow2320YesNo
18027098MACHINE FOR FORMING AND PRINTING CARDBOARD BOXESMarch 2023September 2024Allow1800NoNo
18122795DRIVING TOOLMarch 2023February 2025Allow2321YesNo
18176896POWER TOOLMarch 2023December 2024Allow2120NoNo
18171087IMPACT TOOL AND ANVIL WITH BLIND HOLE TOOL ELEMENT RETENTIONFebruary 2023January 2026Allow3540YesYes
18170749GRINDING TOOLFebruary 2023December 2025Allow3410YesNo
18168965POWERED FASTENER DRIVERFebruary 2023November 2024Allow2110YesNo
18166698SURGICAL STAPLER WITH EXPANDABLE JAWFebruary 2023July 2024Allow1700NoNo
18161177METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PRODUCING PRESSWAREJanuary 2023May 2024Allow1610NoNo
18159925Device and Method for Forming Paper StrappingJanuary 2023October 2024Abandon2020NoNo
18152549POWER TOOL INCLUDING A BATTERY PACK ISOLATION SYSTEMJanuary 2023July 2023Allow610NoNo
18004272ARRANGEMENT FOR PRODUCING EMBOSSED CUSHIONING MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING EMBOSSED CUSHIONING MATERIALJanuary 2023August 2024Allow2010NoNo
18089738PACKAGING APPARATUS FOR FILM INFLATION AND METHOD THEREOFDecember 2022August 2025Abandon3220NoNo
18012342METHOD AND DEVICE FOR COVERING BOXESDecember 2022July 2025Abandon3100NoNo
18081779SEALING TAPEDecember 2022November 2024Allow2310YesNo
18065778DIRECT TO CONTAINER SYSTEM WITH ON-LINE WEIGHT CONTROL AND ASSOCIATED METHODDecember 2022December 2023Allow1200NoNo
18009522Electropneumatic impact mechanismDecember 2022August 2024Allow2010NoNo
18009556Setting device and setting method for self-drilling anchor boltDecember 2022August 2024Allow2010NoNo
18076586METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PACKAGING ARTICLESDecember 2022January 2025Allow2630NoNo
18073690SYSTEM FOR MAKING POUCHESDecember 2022October 2024Abandon2210NoNo
18070890METHODS OF MANUFACTURE FOR MULTI-INGREDIENT BEVERAGE FILTER CARTRIDGESNovember 2022July 2024Allow1900NoNo
17984173METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASEPTICALLY FILLING A PACKAGENovember 2022February 2024Allow1610NoNo
17997999FORMING UNIT AND METHOD FOR FORMING A CONTAINER AND PACKING APPARATUS WITH SUCH A FORMING UNITNovember 2022March 2024Allow1610NoNo
17980034PACKAGING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PACKAGING ARTICLESNovember 2022August 2024Allow2120NoNo
18052199PRODUCT POUCH ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOFNovember 2022November 2024Allow2410NoNo
17996977METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING A LENGTH OF PADDING MATERIALOctober 2022May 2025Allow3120YesNo
17962250LINER FOR AN OVERPACK ASSEMBLYOctober 2022January 2025Allow2700YesNo
17937869STRETCH-HOOD MACHINEOctober 2022August 2023Allow1110NoNo
17959385METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING KITS OF SANITARY PRODUCTS, AND RELATED APPARATUSOctober 2022February 2024Allow1710NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner WITTENSCHLAEGER, THOMAS M.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
15
Examiner Affirmed
8
(53.3%)
Examiner Reversed
7
(46.7%)
Reversal Percentile
69.0%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 46.7% 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
36
Allowed After Appeal Filing
14
(38.9%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
22
(61.1%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
64.2%
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, 38.9% 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 WITTENSCHLAEGER, THOMAS M - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner WITTENSCHLAEGER, THOMAS M works in Art Unit 3731 and has examined 357 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 76.2%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 32 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner WITTENSCHLAEGER, THOMAS M's allowance rate of 76.2% places them in the 42% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by WITTENSCHLAEGER, THOMAS M receive 2.25 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 63% 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 WITTENSCHLAEGER, THOMAS M is 32 months. This places the examiner in the 53% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +15.9% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by WITTENSCHLAEGER, THOMAS M. This interview benefit is in the 56% 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, 24.1% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 35% 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 32.0% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 47% 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, 72.7% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 60% 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 53.1% of appeals filed. This is in the 24% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 29.4% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). 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, 45.5% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 39% 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 43% 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 5.1% of allowed cases (in the 81% 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:

    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.