Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.
| Application Number | Title | Filing Date | Disposal Date | Disposition | Time (months) | Office Actions | Restrictions | Interview | Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17137943 | DISPENSING SYSTEM CAP AND CAP SYSTEM | December 2020 | October 2023 | Allow | 34 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17132266 | LIQUID MEDICATION DISPENSER | December 2020 | January 2023 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17255491 | DROPLET DISPENSER | December 2020 | June 2023 | Allow | 30 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17129003 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING A TOWEL OR A CLEANING LIQUID | December 2020 | December 2023 | Abandon | 36 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17121135 | BEVERAGE SUPPLYING APPARATUS | December 2020 | March 2023 | Abandon | 27 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17120122 | AUTHENTICATION READER AND A DISPENSER COMPRISING THE AUTHENTICATION READER | December 2020 | November 2021 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17107237 | Apparatus for Dispensing Bedding Inside of Breeding Cages for Use in Pharmaceutical Preclinical Research Centres, and Method of Using Said Apparatus | November 2020 | January 2024 | Allow | 37 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17104200 | LIQUID DISPENSING SYSTEM COMPRISING AN UNITARY DISPENSING NOZZLE | November 2020 | October 2023 | Allow | 34 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17056469 | IN-LINE MEASUREMENT OF FILL SYSTEM | November 2020 | April 2023 | Abandon | 29 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17055707 | CONNECTOR DEVICE | November 2020 | September 2022 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17091882 | BEVERAGE CONTAINER AUTOMATED SPOUTS AND RELATED METHODS | November 2020 | December 2022 | Allow | 25 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17053405 | APPARATUS FOR METERING AND DISPENSING VISCOUS SUBSTANCE | November 2020 | March 2022 | Allow | 16 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 17085829 | REMOVABLE ROLLER WITH ROTATION INDICATOR | October 2020 | November 2024 | Allow | 48 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17082598 | SYSTEM FOR LAUNDRY DETERGENT DELIVERY | October 2020 | June 2024 | Allow | 44 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17074339 | Smart Soap | October 2020 | August 2022 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17072448 | CHILLED BEVERAGE DISPENSING | October 2020 | July 2021 | Allow | 9 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17046602 | Systems and Methods for Dispensing a Beverage | October 2020 | October 2022 | Allow | 24 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 17046188 | MEASURED FLUID DISPENSER | October 2020 | February 2022 | Allow | 16 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17062807 | Re-Mixing Dispenser for Liquids in Plunger Tubes | October 2020 | December 2023 | Allow | 38 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 17033069 | Soda Carbonation and Dispensation System and Method | September 2020 | August 2023 | Allow | 35 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17041484 | REMOTE CONTROLLED BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM | September 2020 | November 2022 | Abandon | 25 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 17027281 | Disposable Beverage Dispenser | September 2020 | May 2022 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17025125 | VOLUMETRIC MEASUREMENT AND REGULATION DEVICE INCORPORATED IN A TIME-PRESSURE DISPENSER | September 2020 | September 2022 | Allow | 24 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17021214 | CONTAINER VALVE NODE SYSTEM | September 2020 | August 2024 | Abandon | 47 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17012201 | VARIABLE RATE AIR METERING SYSTEM | September 2020 | January 2023 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17004479 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING BEVERAGE DISPENSER | August 2020 | January 2024 | Allow | 40 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17002840 | DISPENSING CLOSURE | August 2020 | December 2021 | Allow | 15 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 15733542 | Spray Devices For Dispensing Aqueous Iodine, and Methods of Making and Using Spray Devices That Dispense Aqueous Iodine | August 2020 | December 2024 | Abandon | 51 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 16986511 | Device for dispensing liquid product with enhanced efficiency | August 2020 | July 2022 | Abandon | 23 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16986685 | Soap Dispensing Shower Assembly | August 2020 | February 2022 | Allow | 19 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16967173 | DISPENSER CONTAINER HAVING RETRACTABLE NOZZLE | August 2020 | August 2021 | Allow | 12 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 16940559 | MULTIPLE-PIECE VACUUM-INSULATED HEATING TANK OF WATER DISPENSER | July 2020 | December 2021 | Allow | 17 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16940236 | FLUID DISPENSING DEVICE | July 2020 | October 2022 | Allow | 27 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16963472 | NOZZLE HANGER | July 2020 | December 2024 | Allow | 53 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16927879 | SANI-WATCH | July 2020 | November 2022 | Abandon | 28 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16924764 | FLAVOUR SELECTABLE FROZEN SOFT-SERVE CONFECTION DISPENSING MACHINE | July 2020 | June 2022 | Allow | 23 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 16957266 | Valve and Method for Gasifying Liquids and Dispensing Gasified Liquids | June 2020 | August 2022 | Allow | 26 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16955794 | BLOCKING DEVICE | June 2020 | April 2023 | Allow | 34 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16900890 | Dual Purpose Food Packaging Refill Container and Waste Receptacle | June 2020 | March 2022 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16893550 | ENGINE DRIVEN WELDER | June 2020 | March 2021 | Abandon | 10 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16894154 | LIQUID DISPENSER | June 2020 | May 2022 | Allow | 24 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16893512 | CLOSURE | June 2020 | January 2023 | Allow | 31 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16883169 | FLEXIBLE MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR HAND HYGIENE DISPENSERS | May 2020 | October 2021 | Allow | 17 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16877160 | DUAL ACTUATED AEROSOL DEVICES | May 2020 | March 2022 | Allow | 22 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16867965 | Beverage Container with Handle Actuation Arrangement | May 2020 | April 2022 | Allow | 23 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16865935 | CLOSURE DEVICE AND LIQUID CONTAINER | May 2020 | November 2022 | Allow | 30 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16861713 | AEROSOL DELIVERY DEVICE WITH SLIDING AND AXIALLY ROTATING LOCKING MECHANISM | April 2020 | October 2022 | Allow | 29 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16859380 | Method Providing Superimposed Machine Readable Tags for Dispenser and Replaceable Reservoir | April 2020 | February 2022 | Allow | 21 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 16756933 | FLUID INTEGRATING SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING AN INTEGRATED FLUID ACCORDING TO CONSUMER-DEFINED PREFERENCES | April 2020 | December 2021 | Allow | 20 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16842667 | Fluid Transfer Device | April 2020 | August 2022 | Abandon | 29 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16841482 | Liquid Dispenser | April 2020 | January 2022 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16830591 | BEVERAGE CONTAINMENT AND DISPENSING SYSTEM | March 2020 | November 2021 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16826560 | APPARATUSES FOR DISPENSING FLOWABLE MATERIALS | March 2020 | April 2022 | Allow | 25 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16826077 | Consumption Packet with Drinking Arrangement | March 2020 | February 2024 | Allow | 47 | 3 | 1 | No | No |
| 16647657 | A DEVICE FOR DOSING AND DISPENSING MATERIAL AND A METHOD OF OPERATING SUCH DEVICE | March 2020 | July 2022 | Allow | 28 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16810968 | PUMP DISPENSERS | March 2020 | March 2022 | Allow | 24 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16797790 | MONITORING EQUILIBRIUM AND DISPENSEMENT OF A FLUID DISPENSEMENT SYSTEM TO IMPROVE QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY | February 2020 | March 2024 | Allow | 49 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16635169 | MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING AND MONITORING THE SANITIZATION PROCESS | January 2020 | October 2022 | Allow | 32 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16775598 | MACHINE FOR DISPENSING BEVERAGES | January 2020 | July 2022 | Abandon | 30 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16749174 | REUSABLE PUMP DISPENSER | January 2020 | April 2022 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16744263 | Manifold Style Metering Mechanism for use with Beverage Dispensing System | January 2020 | April 2022 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16741367 | Dispensing Assemblies And Related Methods | January 2020 | November 2023 | Allow | 47 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16616864 | DROPLET DISPENSING | November 2019 | March 2023 | Allow | 40 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16614735 | Beverage Supply Apparatus | November 2019 | March 2022 | Allow | 28 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 16603066 | Device for Serving by Single Glasses | October 2019 | February 2022 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16499487 | A BAG CONTAINING A REFERENCE FLUID | September 2019 | January 2024 | Allow | 52 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16556209 | Container For Consumable Liquid Having Chambers For Separating Ingredients And A Mixing Chamber | August 2019 | February 2023 | Allow | 42 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16485145 | MEASURING DEVICE OF CHINESE MEDICINE GRANULES | August 2019 | April 2022 | Allow | 32 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 16535980 | Flavored Frozen Beverage Dispenser | August 2019 | July 2021 | Allow | 24 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16457182 | DISPOSABLE CONTAINER WITH SPECIALIZED DISPENSING MEANS | June 2019 | November 2021 | Abandon | 29 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 16454934 | LIQUID DISPENSER, IN PARTICULAR FOR ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES | June 2019 | November 2021 | Abandon | 28 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16473912 | DEVICE FOR PROTECTING AND DISPENSING PASTY OR CREAMY PRODUCTS | June 2019 | April 2022 | Allow | 34 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 16453554 | Sample Pump Device For Insertion Into Printed Circulars | June 2019 | April 2021 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16473480 | VENTING SYSTEM | June 2019 | August 2021 | Abandon | 26 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16470298 | Nebulizer and Cartridge | June 2019 | September 2023 | Allow | 51 | 1 | 2 | Yes | No |
| 16424832 | DOUBLE INLET VALVE FOR ENHANCED PUMP EFFICIENCY | May 2019 | October 2021 | Allow | 28 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16415828 | FLUID INSULATION ASSEMBLY | May 2019 | March 2023 | Allow | 45 | 5 | 1 | No | Yes |
| 16346640 | CONTAINER LID | May 2019 | April 2022 | Allow | 35 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16358666 | Automatic Preservative Gas Replenishing System | March 2019 | May 2020 | Allow | 14 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16297191 | WATER DISPENSER | March 2019 | January 2020 | Allow | 10 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16282462 | OUTLET VALVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ENHANCED PUMP EFFICIENCY | February 2019 | March 2021 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16326339 | AEROSOL DISPENSER HEAD WITH LOCKING FEATURE | February 2019 | March 2020 | Allow | 13 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16325929 | Rotary Piston Depositor Supporting User-Configurable Precision Multiple Output Ports | February 2019 | September 2021 | Allow | 31 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16325459 | BARREL PUMP HAVING A FOLLOWER PLATE WITH AN ADJUSTABLE SEALING RING | February 2019 | March 2021 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16324383 | SQUEEZER AND LIQUID DISCHARGE SYSTEM AND METHOD | February 2019 | March 2022 | Allow | 37 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16269400 | Method Providing Superimposed QR Code for Dispenser and Replaceable Reservoir | February 2019 | January 2020 | Allow | 12 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16256645 | BEVERAGE SUPPLYING APPARATUS | January 2019 | June 2022 | Allow | 41 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16320066 | DISCHARGE CONTAINER | January 2019 | April 2021 | Allow | 27 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16253849 | DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR AGING AND STORING WINE IN FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS | January 2019 | March 2021 | Allow | 26 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16253371 | Water spray gun with flow control | January 2019 | August 2020 | Abandon | 19 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16249778 | FLUID PUMP STERILIZATION APPARATUS AND METHOD | January 2019 | October 2019 | Allow | 8 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16311875 | System and Method for Conveying an Agricultural Formulation | December 2018 | September 2020 | Allow | 21 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16304981 | MULTI-USE SEALANT LIQUID CONTAINER FOR AN INFLATABLE ARTICLE REPAIR KIT | November 2018 | February 2021 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16178797 | DISPENSING PUMP | November 2018 | January 2021 | Abandon | 26 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 16176140 | BEVERAGE DISPENSER SYSTEMS AND METHODS | October 2018 | April 2022 | Allow | 42 | 5 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16176875 | METHODS FOR DISPENSING FLOWABLE MATERIALS | October 2018 | February 2020 | Allow | 15 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16175957 | DOUBLE INLET VALVE FOR ENHANCED PUMP EFFICIENCY | October 2018 | April 2021 | Allow | 29 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16173792 | DISPENSING SYSTEM | October 2018 | July 2020 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 16153533 | CONTAINERS AND METHODS FOR ISOLATING LIQUIDS PRIOR TO DISPENSING | October 2018 | October 2019 | Allow | 13 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16153470 | CONTAINERS AND METHODS FOR ISOLATING LIQUIDS PRIOR TO DISPENSING | October 2018 | January 2020 | Allow | 15 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner NICHOLS II, ROBERT K.
With a 45.5% 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.
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, 39.3% 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.
✓ 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 NICHOLS II, ROBERT K works in Art Unit 3754 and has examined 712 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 60.8%, this examiner allows applications at a lower rate than most examiners at the USPTO. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 32 months.
Examiner NICHOLS II, ROBERT K's allowance rate of 60.8% places them in the 22% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner is less likely to allow applications than most examiners at the USPTO.
On average, applications examined by NICHOLS II, ROBERT K receive 2.00 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 48% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues fewer office actions than average, which may indicate efficient prosecution or a more lenient examination style.
The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by NICHOLS II, ROBERT K is 32 months. This places the examiner in the 53% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.
Conducting an examiner interview provides a +38.4% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by NICHOLS II, ROBERT K. This interview benefit is in the 85% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews are highly effective with this examiner and should be strongly considered as a prosecution strategy. Per MPEP § 713.10, interviews are available at any time before the Notice of Allowance is mailed or jurisdiction transfers to the PTAB.
When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 22.9% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 34% 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.
This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 32.1% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 49% 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.
When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 50.0% 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.
This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 63.3% of appeals filed. This is in the 42% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 47.4% 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.
When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 80.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 84% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions are frequently granted regarding this examiner's actions compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 1002.02(c), various examiner actions are petitionable to the Technology Center Director, including prematureness of final rejection, refusal to enter amendments, and requirement for information. If you believe an examiner action is improper, consider filing a petition.
Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 1.8% of allowed cases (in the 74% 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 4.2% of allowed cases (in the 80% 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.
Based on the statistical analysis of this examiner's prosecution patterns, here are tailored strategic recommendations:
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.