USPTO Examiner RINEHART KENNETH - Art Unit 3753

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18695926A CONNECTOR PIECE AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A CONNECTOR PIECE FOR VENTILATION DUCTS RESISTING HIGH TEMPERATURESMarch 2024March 2025Abandon1211NoNo
18536737MULTILAYER COMPOSITE PIPE AND PIPE ASSEMBLIES INCLUDING REFLECTIVE INSULATIONDecember 2023January 2025Allow1311NoNo
18311781APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSULATED CONDUCTING OF FLUIDSMay 2023May 2024Abandon1210NoNo
18118548PIPE REINFORCEMENT CAP FOR SEAT BELTMarch 2023April 2024Abandon1320NoNo
17885793CORD TANGLE PREVENTION DEVICEAugust 2022March 2025Abandon3110NoNo
17703413EASILY POLYMERIZABLE SUBSTANCE HANDLING DEVICEMarch 2022January 2025Allow3410YesNo
17546101Vacuum Insulated Structure With End Fitting And Method Of Making SameDecember 2021May 2024Abandon3020NoNo
17612819TUBE FITTING AND TUBE FITTING SETNovember 2021May 2024Abandon3010NoNo
17312633SELF-CONTAINED PORTABLE DEVICE FOR FILLING CYLINDERS WITH HIGH-PRESSURE HYDROGENJune 2021November 2022Abandon1710NoNo
17336890TRAP APPARATUS AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUSJune 2021May 2024Abandon3510NoNo
17051503FLUID CONDUIT AND METHOD OF MAKING SAMEOctober 2020May 2024Abandon4201NoNo
16875341MOBILE GASEOUS AND LIQUID HYDROGEN REFUELING APPARATUSMay 2020November 2022Abandon3010NoNo
16761122MACHINE AND METHOD FOR CHARGING CULINARY CREAM WHIPPERSMay 2020January 2023Abandon3310NoNo
16838251RAPID-CONNECT COUPLER AND RECEPTACLE HAVING ANTI-ROTATION FEATUREApril 2020May 2022Allow2510NoNo
16323994METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING AN AMOUNT OF GAS IN A CALIBRATION-CAPABLE MANNERFebruary 2019November 2022Abandon4501NoNo
14647584METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING VISCOUS MATERIALMay 2015February 2023Abandon60110YesYes
11784424PRESSURE ACTIVATED TRAP PRIMER AND WATER HAMMER COMBINATIONApril 2007September 2010Allow4120NoNo
11543446STARVED AIR INCLINED HEARTH COMBUSTOROctober 2006July 2009Allow3440NoNo
11383245APPARATUS FOR REDUCING NOX EMISSIONS IN FURNACES THROUGH THE CONCENTRATION OF SOLID FUEL AS COMPARED TO AIRMay 2006November 2008Allow3020NoNo
11402421HEAT PUMP CLOTHES DRYERApril 2006October 2009Allow4221NoNo
11307389AGRICULTURAL DRYING APPARATUS AND METHODSFebruary 2006November 2008Allow3310NoNo
11338894HAIR DRYER WITH STATIC ATOMIZING DEVICEJanuary 2006July 2009Allow4120NoNo
11315476FRAME SEAL FOR A SOLID FUEL DISTRIBUTORDecember 2005April 2010Allow5240NoNo
10539887DRYING-STORING APPARATUS FOR POWDERED OR GRANULAR MATERIAL AND FEEDING SYSTEM FOR POWDERED OR GRANULAR MATERIALDecember 2005October 2009Allow5230NoNo
11296039HEAT RECOVERY AND VENTILATION SYSTEM FOR DRYERSDecember 2005April 2009Allow4020NoNo
11260419FEEDING SYSTEM FOR PLASMA MELTING-FURNACEOctober 2005October 2009Allow4830NoNo
10517023METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF WASTEOctober 2005July 2009Allow5540NoNo
11216861COMPUTER TO PLATE COLOR SENSOR AND DRYING/CURING SYSTEM AND METHODAugust 2005December 2009Allow5140NoNo
10510431ION GENERATING DEVICEJuly 2005May 2008Abandon4320NoNo
11147877STEAM BLOWER BOXJune 2005October 2008Allow4120NoNo
11131731PRESSURE ACTIVATED TRAP PRIMER AND WATER HAMMER COMBINATIONMay 2005February 2009Allow4510YesNo
11117519BOILER GAS FLOW DISTRIBUTION FIN APPARATUS AND METHODApril 2005October 2009Allow5440NoYes
10962534CLEANING DEVICE, CLEANING TOOL AND METHOD OF USING THE CLEANING DEVICEOctober 2004March 2011Allow6051NoNo
10898637Method and an apparatus for manufacturing a three-dimensional surface structure webJuly 2004March 2014Allow6042YesYes
10721179DRYERNovember 2003May 2005Allow1880YesYes
10410118APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COMBUSTIONApril 2003September 2009Allow6030NoYes
10390074CONDITIONING APPARATUSMarch 2003June 2009Allow6060NoYes

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner RINEHART, KENNETH.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
4
Examiner Affirmed
1
(25.0%)
Examiner Reversed
3
(75.0%)
Reversal Percentile
89.8%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 75.0% 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
6
Allowed After Appeal Filing
4
(66.7%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
2
(33.3%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
93.0%
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, 66.7% 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 RINEHART, KENNETH - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner RINEHART, KENNETH works in Art Unit 3753 and has examined 31 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 67.7%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 42 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner RINEHART, KENNETH's allowance rate of 67.7% places them in the 29% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by RINEHART, KENNETH receive 2.81 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 82% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues more office actions than most examiners, which may indicate thorough examination or difficulty in reaching agreement with applicants.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by RINEHART, KENNETH is 42 months. This places the examiner in the 20% percentile for prosecution speed. Applications take longer to reach final disposition with this examiner compared to most others.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +8.3% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by RINEHART, KENNETH. This interview benefit is in the 39% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide a below-average benefit with this examiner.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 17.1% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 15% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show lower effectiveness with this examiner compared to others. Consider whether a continuation application might be more strategic, especially if you need to add new matter or significantly broaden claims.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 45.8% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 70% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner shows above-average receptiveness to after-final amendments. If your amendments clearly overcome the rejections and do not raise new issues, consider filing after-final amendments before resorting to an RCE.

Pre-Appeal Conference Effectiveness

When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 100.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 77% 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 55.6% of appeals filed. This is in the 28% 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, 62.5% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 67% 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 3.2% of allowed cases (in the 80% percentile). Per MPEP § 1302.04, examiner's amendments are used to place applications in condition for allowance when only minor changes are needed. This examiner frequently uses this tool compared to other examiners, indicating a cooperative approach to getting applications allowed. Strategic Insight: If you are close to allowance but minor claim amendments are needed, this examiner may be willing to make an examiner's amendment rather than requiring another round of prosecution.

Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 19.0% of allowed cases (in the 93% 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:

  • Expect multiple rounds of prosecution: This examiner issues more office actions than average. Address potential issues proactively in your initial response and consider requesting an interview early in prosecution.
  • 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.
  • Plan for extended prosecution: Applications take longer than average with this examiner. Factor this into your continuation strategy and client communications.
  • Examiner cooperation: This examiner frequently makes examiner's amendments to place applications in condition for allowance. If you are close to allowance, the examiner may help finalize the claims.

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.