USPTO Examiner BALLMAN CHRISTOPHER D - Art Unit 3753

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18912286TURBINE-INDUCED ICCP SYSTEM FOR METALLIC PIPELINESOctober 2024March 2025Allow510NoNo
18563671CHANGE-OVER VALVE AND VACUUM CLEANERNovember 2023January 2025Allow1411NoNo
18468972VALVE DEVICESeptember 2023March 2025Allow1810YesNo
18468925VALVE DEVICESeptember 2023March 2025Allow1810YesNo
18230595METAL 3D PRINTED HEAT EXCHANGERS AND FLUID DIRECTING DEVICESAugust 2023March 2025Allow2020NoNo
18273660Method for Actuating a Solenoid Valve Which is Used for Throughflow Rate Control of an Agricultural Spreading MachineJuly 2023June 2025Allow2310NoNo
18216173VALVE CARTRIDGEJune 2023March 2025Allow2120YesNo
18209407CONTROL VALVEJune 2023September 2024Allow1510YesNo
18310265Systems and Methods For Controlling Fluid FlowMay 2023December 2024Allow1920NoNo
18300005Filling an Armature Space of an ActuatorApril 2023June 2025Allow2610NoNo
18194220VALVE DEVICEMarch 2023September 2024Allow1800NoNo
18127012Fluid Control SystemMarch 2023July 2024Allow1510NoNo
18183861ROTARY VALVE ASSEMBLYMarch 2023April 2025Allow2510NoNo
18182978Directional Control ValveMarch 2023June 2025Abandon2711NoNo
18110280METAL 3D PRINTED HEAT EXCHANGERS AND FLUID DIRECTING DEVICESFebruary 2023April 2024Allow1411YesNo
18093975MODULAR VALVE APPARATUS AND SYSTEMJanuary 2023September 2024Allow2001NoNo
18002718Energy Recovery Valve System with Spherical Segment Valve for Controlling the Fluid Flow in a DuctDecember 2022May 2025Allow2930YesNo
18067007MIXING VALVEDecember 2022December 2024Allow2410NoNo
18079771Insert Molded Core DepressorDecember 2022May 2025Abandon2920NoNo
18001394DIRECTIONAL VALVE AND VALVE CAGE FOR A DIRECTIONAL VALVEDecember 2022September 2024Abandon2110NoNo
18072849VALVE FOR DIVIDING A HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT AND HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT COMPRISING SAID VALVEDecember 2022November 2024Allow2310NoNo
17992993ACTUATING MEMBER AND REVERSING VALVENovember 2022August 2024Allow3110NoNo
17977262AIR SUPPLY DEVICEOctober 2022September 2024Allow2310NoNo
17972810VALVE DEVICEOctober 2022September 2024Allow2310YesNo
17965804MULTIFUNCTIONAL WATER TREATMENT FILTER VALVEOctober 2022May 2025Allow3100NoNo
17914606SANITARY FAUCET HAVING A NON-AXIAL THERMOSTATIC MIXING VALVE AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING A SANITARY FAUCETSeptember 2022March 2024Allow1800NoNo
17940306ELECTROMAGNETIC VALVE AND FLUID SYSTEMSeptember 2022January 2024Allow1600NoNo
17940147INFLATION PUMP CONNECTOR SUITABLE FOR VARIOUS VALVESSeptember 2022December 2023Allow1600NoNo
17903448APPARATUS FOR NOISE REDUCTION IN VALVESSeptember 2022May 2024Allow2030YesNo
17909533ValveSeptember 2022November 2024Allow2620YesNo
17900184CAP ASSEMBLYAugust 2022June 2024Allow2100NoNo
17822276ROTOR FOR MULTIPORT COOLANT FLOW CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLYAugust 2022March 2025Allow3130YesNo
17888542MANUFACTURING VALVE TRIM TO ABATE NOISEAugust 2022June 2023Allow1010YesNo
17904154OIL SOLENOID VALVE WITH REAL TIME MONITORING OF PLUNGER POSITIONAugust 2022July 2024Abandon2310NoNo
17817467CHOKE GATE VALVE SYSTEMS AND METHODSAugust 2022December 2024Allow2830YesNo
17758998FLOW CONTROL VALVE WITH EROSION PROTECTIONJuly 2022May 2024Allow2220YesNo
17810584Vision System for Rotary ValveJuly 2022January 2024Allow1920YesNo
17838324Downhole Fluid Control SystemJune 2022May 2023Abandon1110NoNo
17836371VALVE BODY WITH BYPASSJune 2022February 2024Allow2140NoNo
17748453GASKET DEVICE AND PNEUMATIC VALVE SYSTEM FOR A COMMERCIAL VEHICLEMay 2022September 2024Allow2830NoNo
17741712CHANNEL SELECTOR VALVEMay 2022June 2024Allow2510NoNo
17735441VALVE DEVICEMay 2022September 2023Allow1610YesNo
17728112SPATIALLY CONTROLLABLE EDUCTOR FOR MANAGING SOLID ADDITIVES AND PROCESSES USING SAMEApril 2022December 2024Abandon3250YesNo
17726136MULTI-WAY REFRIGERANT VALVE AND HEAT PUMP SYSTEM HAVING THE SAMEApril 2022April 2024Allow2400NoNo
17716252VALVE FOR CONTROLLING A COOLANT CIRCUITApril 2022January 2024Allow2130NoNo
17656537Apparatus for Handling Fluid of an at Least Partially Electrically Driven VehicleMarch 2022January 2024Allow2120NoNo
17762309TEMPERATURE CONTROL DEVICEMarch 2022March 2025Allow3620YesNo
17689037VALVE DEVICEMarch 2022April 2025Allow3721YesNo
17686786VALVE DEVICE AND FLUID CIRCULATION CIRCUITMarch 2022September 2023Allow1810YesNo
17667637STEAM VALVEFebruary 2022November 2023Abandon2120NoNo
17631862Rocker-arm-type Graded Faucet and Valve Element ThereofJanuary 2022November 2023Abandon2110NoNo
17597965FLOW PATH SWITCHING VALVEJanuary 2022January 2024Allow2420NoNo
17585727ROTARY MULTI-WAY DISTRIBUTOR WITH PLURAL PORT TRACKSJanuary 2022December 2023Allow2220NoNo
17585472FLUID CHANNEL STRUCTURE, VALVE CORE ASSEMBLY AND TAPJanuary 2022November 2022Allow1010YesNo
17580156Six Port ValveJanuary 2022August 2023Allow1910NoNo
17579430VALVE PLUG APPARATUS FOR USE WITH CONTROL VALVESJanuary 2022January 2023Allow1110NoNo
17573676PISTON ACTUATED CARTRIDGE VALVEJanuary 2022October 2023Allow2130YesNo
17574199Self-Energized Programmable Timer Control Valve SystemJanuary 2022June 2022Allow500NoNo
17573675Piston Activated Cartridge Valves and the Components ThereofJanuary 2022October 2024Allow3311YesNo
17624607VALVE HOUSING AND GLOBE VALVE FOR CONTROLLING A PROCESS FLUID FLOW WITH A VALVE HOUSINGJanuary 2022April 2024Allow2720YesNo
17567180VALVE CORE ASSEMBLYJanuary 2022June 2023Abandon1810NoNo
17567178VALVE CORE ASSEMBLYJanuary 2022June 2023Abandon1810NoNo
17566068Poppet Valve with Pivotable SealDecember 2021November 2023Allow2220YesNo
17560449MULTI-PORT ROTARY ACTUATED VALVE ASSEMBLYDecember 2021August 2023Allow1910NoNo
17551859Rotary Disc ValveDecember 2021February 2024Allow2620NoNo
17619133VALVES AND CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PRESSURE EQUALIZATION AND DE-ENERGIZATIONDecember 2021April 2024Allow2810NoNo
17536584VALVE DEVICENovember 2021September 2023Allow2210YesNo
17527563AXIAL THREE-WAY MODULATING VALVENovember 2021March 2023Allow1620NoNo
17524567SHUTTLE VALVE SPOOL ASSEMBLYNovember 2021June 2024Abandon3120NoYes
17610003SINGLE LEVER CARTRIDGE FOR A SANITARY FAUCETNovember 2021August 2024Allow3330YesNo
17518790MULTI-WAY VALVE FOR A CONTROL OF A REFRIGERANT CIRCUITNovember 2021May 2023Allow1920YesNo
17605670Multiport ValveOctober 2021August 2023Allow2220NoNo
17601466VALVE CONTROLLED CARTRIDGE OPERATED BY A PUSHBUTTON FOR THE MIXING OF WATER AND/OR FOR DIRECTING WATER COMING FROM AN INLET TO ONE OR MORE OUTLETSOctober 2021July 2022Allow1010NoNo
17601458FLOW CONTROLLED PISTON VALVEOctober 2021August 2022Allow1120YesNo
17594088MIXER FAUCETOctober 2021October 2023Allow2420YesNo
17598459EXHAUST GAS CONTROL VALVESeptember 2021July 2024Allow3321YesNo
17482569ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED VALVE SEATS AND SEALS INCLUDING A METAL-THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITESeptember 2021March 2025Allow4240YesNo
17478524CHOKE TRIM WITH FLOW TURBULENCE CONTROLSeptember 2021April 2024Allow3130YesNo
17472624Multiport ValveSeptember 2021June 2023Allow2110NoNo
17467058METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING HYDROGEN GAS VIA A PIPELINESeptember 2021May 2024Abandon3311NoNo
17433841STEAM TRAPAugust 2021March 2022Allow700NoNo
17406782VALVE FOR TRANSFERRING AT LEAST ONE FLUIDAugust 2021August 2024Allow3630YesNo
17399132FLUID DISTRIBUTOR WITH IMPROVED OPERATIONAugust 2021June 2023Allow2200NoNo
17395599SAFETY VALVE FOR HYDRAULIC OR PNEUMATIC TOOLAugust 2021February 2024Allow3020YesNo
17424508VENTILATION CAP ON A SOLENOID VALVE IN COMPRESSED-AIR INSTALLATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE FOR VEHICLESJuly 2021September 2023Abandon2610NoNo
17367908APPARATUS FOR SEALING PIPES AND PLUMBING FITTINGS & FIXTURESJuly 2021June 2023Allow2320YesNo
17348774PREMIXING DEVICE AND COMBUSTION DEVICE EQUIPPED WITH THE PREMIXING DEVICEJune 2021September 2023Allow2720YesNo
17298808ELECTRIC SWITCH VALVE AND VALVE BLOCK THEREOFJune 2021April 2024Abandon3520NoNo
17332560ANTI-CAVITATION CAGE FOR VALVE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF MANUFACTUREMay 2021May 2024Allow3541YesNo
17296545Pump Valve Module and Method for Operating the Same, Solenoid Valve-based Pump Valve Module for Providing Massage Function for Vehicle Seat, and Vehicle SeatMay 2021June 2025Allow4911NoNo
17308546INTERFLOW LIMITING VALVE ASSEMBLYMay 2021February 2023Allow2210NoNo
17225114VALVE CORE ASSEMBLYApril 2021November 2021Allow710NoNo
17283140VALVE UPPER PART FOR SANITARY FITTINGSApril 2021January 2023Allow2110NoNo
17217851CHOKE VALVEMarch 2021September 2023Allow3020YesNo
17191119EXHAUST FLOW MODIFIER, DUCT INTERSECTION INCORPORATING THE SAME, AND METHODS THEREFORMarch 2021February 2025Allow4840YesNo
17189031ROTARY MULTI-PORT GREASING VALVEMarch 2021November 2023Allow3330NoNo
17188555CONTROL VALVEMarch 2021March 2023Allow2520YesNo
17180279FAUCET WITH MULTI-DIRECTIONAL CONTROLSFebruary 2021March 2024Allow3740YesNo
17179836MULTI-PASSAGE COOLANT VALVEFebruary 2021January 2023Allow2310NoNo
17176973VALVEFebruary 2021March 2022Allow1300NoNo

Appeals Overview

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

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
8
Examiner Affirmed
4
(50.0%)
Examiner Reversed
4
(50.0%)
Reversal Percentile
78.4%
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
16
Allowed After Appeal Filing
7
(43.8%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
9
(56.2%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
70.2%
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, 43.8% 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 BALLMAN, CHRISTOPHER D - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner BALLMAN, CHRISTOPHER D works in Art Unit 3753 and has examined 473 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 78.9%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 27 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner BALLMAN, CHRISTOPHER D's allowance rate of 78.9% places them in the 40% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by BALLMAN, CHRISTOPHER D receive 2.02 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 66% 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 BALLMAN, CHRISTOPHER D is 27 months. This places the examiner in the 59% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +16.4% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by BALLMAN, CHRISTOPHER D. 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, 30.7% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 53% 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 32.3% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 39% 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, 57.1% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 47% percentile among all examiners. Note: Pre-appeal conferences show below-average success with this examiner. Consider whether your arguments are strong enough to warrant a PAC request.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 61.9% of appeals filed. This is in the 35% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 30.8% 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, 44.4% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 49% 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 0.6% of allowed cases (in the 63% 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 2.7% of allowed cases (in the 69% 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:

    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.