Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.
| Application Number | Title | Filing Date | Disposal Date | Disposition | Time (months) | Office Actions | Restrictions | Interview | Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18756672 | Workpiece Processing Apparatus with Thermal Processing Systems | June 2024 | January 2025 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18506056 | PORTABLE WATER HEATER | November 2023 | June 2025 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18016750 | DEVICE FOR PRODUCING EXPANDED GRANULATED MATERIAL | January 2023 | September 2023 | Allow | 8 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18081655 | HEATING SYSTEM | December 2022 | May 2025 | Allow | 29 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18074713 | Support Plate for Localized Heating in Thermal Processing Systems | December 2022 | April 2024 | Allow | 17 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17926773 | Tube Module and Tube Assembly Including Same | November 2022 | July 2025 | Allow | 31 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17988759 | PLATE-SHAPED HEAT INSULATOR, COMBUSTION CHAMBER, BOILER AND WATER HEATER | November 2022 | March 2025 | Abandon | 28 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17985801 | Tool and Method for Cleaning and Draining a Water Heater | November 2022 | November 2023 | Allow | 12 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18054696 | Combustion Apparatus | November 2022 | April 2025 | Allow | 29 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18053776 | PREMIXED LOW-NITROGEN GAS BOILER | November 2022 | October 2023 | Allow | 11 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17981419 | Heating Device with Detachable Collection Container | November 2022 | August 2024 | Abandon | 21 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17973754 | OUTDOOR SUPPORT-TYPE WATER HEATER | October 2022 | December 2023 | Abandon | 14 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18049386 | HEAT TREATMENT FURNACE | October 2022 | June 2025 | Allow | 31 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17907632 | WATER HEATER RECEIVING HUMIDIFIED AIR | September 2022 | January 2025 | Allow | 27 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17814916 | Scrap dryer and/or scrap preheater | July 2022 | May 2024 | Allow | 22 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17854512 | WATER HEATER WITH RESERVE CAPACITY, AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME | June 2022 | February 2025 | Allow | 31 | 2 | 1 | Yes | Yes |
| 17844911 | BATCH FURNACE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF OPERATING A BATCH FURNACE ASSEMBLY | June 2022 | January 2024 | Allow | 18 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17787769 | APPARATUS FOR CALCINING SECONDARY BATTERY CATHODE MATERIAL | June 2022 | May 2024 | Allow | 23 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17733756 | FLUID HEATING SYSTEM WITH COMBUSTION TRIM LEARNING | April 2022 | August 2023 | Allow | 16 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17725209 | Apparatus And Method For Toasting Of Barrels | April 2022 | February 2025 | Allow | 34 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17716567 | SUBMERGED, CONDENSING, DIRECT CONTACT, PHASE SHIFTING HEAT TRANSFER PROCESS | April 2022 | December 2024 | Abandon | 32 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17682945 | HEATING DEVICE COMPRISING A GAS SENSOR AND METHOD FOR OPERATION THEREOF | February 2022 | March 2024 | Abandon | 25 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17678677 | GAS MIXING DEVICE AND GAS WATER HEATING DEVICE | February 2022 | July 2023 | Allow | 16 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17632139 | THERMAL TREATMENT OF MINERAL MATERIALS IN A REDUCING ATMOSPHERE USING ALTERNATIVE FUELS | February 2022 | February 2025 | Abandon | 37 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17588913 | HEAT EXCHANGER FOR WATER HEATER | January 2022 | April 2023 | Allow | 15 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17626235 | MONITORING SYSTEM FOR HEATED FLUIDS | January 2022 | May 2024 | Allow | 28 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 17625292 | STEAM GENERATOR, IN PARTICULAR FOR OVENS | January 2022 | May 2025 | Allow | 40 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17567441 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HARDENING MOLD GRIDS USING CLAMP QUENCHING | January 2022 | April 2025 | Allow | 39 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17624370 | SHUTTLE KILN EXHAUST CONFIGURATION | January 2022 | July 2025 | Allow | 42 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17566975 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TOP PLATFORM ASSEMBLY OF HEAT RECOVERY STEAM GENERATOR (HRSG) | December 2021 | January 2025 | Allow | 37 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17557650 | REFILL SYSTEM WITH IMPROVED UTILIZATION RATE OF ULTRA-THIN GLASS PRODUCTION PROCESS | December 2021 | June 2025 | Allow | 41 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17555711 | WATER HEATING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME | December 2021 | May 2024 | Allow | 29 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17596728 | EVAPORATOR OF A WORKING FLUID FOR AN OTEC PLANT COMPRISING A COVER | December 2021 | November 2024 | Abandon | 35 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17618990 | HEAT EXCHANGER WITH PIPE BUNDLE | December 2021 | July 2024 | Allow | 31 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17550154 | Workpiece Processing Apparatus with Thermal Processing Systems | December 2021 | March 2024 | Allow | 27 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17546057 | HOT WATER SUPPLY DEVICE | December 2021 | December 2023 | Allow | 24 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17541218 | COMBUSTION DEVICE AND WATER HEATING DEVICE | December 2021 | May 2024 | Abandon | 30 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17455802 | HEATING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING OPTICAL FIBER BASE MATERIAL | November 2021 | February 2025 | Abandon | 39 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17609319 | Tubular Boiler with Incorporated Oven | November 2021 | September 2024 | Abandon | 35 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17608930 | A METHOD AND AN ARRANGEMENT FOR MEASURING MASS CHANGES OF HEAT EXCHANGERS OF A STEAM BOILER | November 2021 | April 2025 | Allow | 41 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17516897 | USER INTERFACE FOR HEATER | November 2021 | August 2024 | Allow | 33 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17501065 | LOW-CARBON ENERGY UTILIZATION SYSTEM FOR STEAM AND POWER COGENERATION OF OIL FIELD | October 2021 | June 2024 | Allow | 32 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17501447 | BATTERY HEATING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE | October 2021 | March 2025 | Allow | 41 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17449848 | BOAT TRANSFER METHOD AND HEAT TREATMENT APPARATUS | October 2021 | February 2025 | Allow | 41 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17490917 | Swimming Pool/Spa Gas Heater Inlet Mixer System And Associated Methods | September 2021 | June 2024 | Allow | 32 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 17490844 | SUBMERGED FEEDSTOCK CHARGING OF MELTING VESSELS | September 2021 | April 2025 | Allow | 42 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17488441 | HEAT TRAP APPARATUS FOR WATER HEATER | September 2021 | March 2024 | Abandon | 30 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17441770 | METHOD OF HEATING UP FURNACE BOTTOM, AND BURNER LANCE USED IN THE METHOD | September 2021 | January 2025 | Allow | 40 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17481096 | HOT WATER SUPPLY APPARATUS | September 2021 | May 2024 | Allow | 32 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17478321 | Substrate Processing Apparatus, Method of Manufacturing Semiconductor Device and Non-transitory Computer-readable Recording Medium | September 2021 | March 2025 | Allow | 42 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17437050 | ROTARY KILN HAVING SEGMENTED TEMPERATURE CONTROL CAPABILITY | September 2021 | September 2023 | Abandon | 24 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17469603 | WATER HEATING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SMOKE TUBE FOR WATER HEATING DEVICE | September 2021 | January 2025 | Abandon | 41 | 5 | 1 | No | No |
| 17467949 | SHUTTER APPARATUS AND SUBSTRATE TREATING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME | September 2021 | May 2025 | Allow | 44 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17435171 | TEMPERING FURNACE FOR GLASS SHEETS | August 2021 | October 2023 | Allow | 26 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17405386 | PROCESS FOR PRODUCING STEAM FOR A HYDROCARBON RECOVERY PROCESS | August 2021 | November 2024 | Abandon | 39 | 4 | 0 | No | No |
| 17383810 | HEATED FLUE SYSTEM AND METHOD TO VENT A CONDENSING BOILER INTO A NONCONDENSING STACK | July 2021 | September 2024 | Abandon | 38 | 4 | 1 | No | No |
| 17377933 | TWO-STAGE CATALYTIC HEATING SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF OPERATING THEREOF | July 2021 | June 2025 | Allow | 47 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17417886 | WALKING BEAM FURNACE FOR CONTINUOUSLY DISCHARGING AND SHREDDING SCALE | June 2021 | January 2024 | Abandon | 31 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17327216 | MELTING FURNACE PURGE SYSTEM AND METHOD | May 2021 | July 2024 | Allow | 38 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17241161 | CONDENSATE DRAIN FOR WATER HEATER | April 2021 | February 2024 | Abandon | 33 | 4 | 0 | No | No |
| 17231124 | Cabinet Heater Plenum Thermostat Controller | April 2021 | April 2025 | Allow | 48 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17223269 | HEATER TANK FOR HEAT PUMP SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING HEATER TANK | April 2021 | June 2023 | Abandon | 26 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17218697 | BATCH PROCESSING OVEN AND OPERATING METHODS | March 2021 | March 2023 | Allow | 24 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17279919 | HOT WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM | March 2021 | March 2024 | Abandon | 36 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17275554 | CLEANING OF A RECOVERY BOILER | March 2021 | July 2023 | Allow | 28 | 4 | 0 | No | No |
| 17193344 | HYDRAULICALLY OPENED CONE VERTICAL TUBE DIFFUSER WITH SLANTED ANTI-SIPHON HOLE | March 2021 | July 2023 | Allow | 29 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17186867 | COOLING SYSTEM FOR STEEL PRODUCTION SYSTEM | February 2021 | March 2023 | Abandon | 24 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17160391 | HEAT TREATMENT FURNACE, HEATING DEVICE, MANUFACTURING METHOD OF WIRE ELECTRODE AND HEAT DIFFUSION TREATMENT METHOD | January 2021 | September 2023 | Allow | 31 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17261112 | FLAMELESS IMPINGEMENT OVEN | January 2021 | October 2022 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17136541 | GAS MIXING DEVICE AND GAS WATER HEATING DEVICE | December 2020 | November 2022 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17136533 | HEAT EXCHANGE PIPE, HEAT EXCHANGER AND WATER HEATING APPARATUS | December 2020 | September 2023 | Allow | 32 | 4 | 0 | No | No |
| 16974303 | Retrofit cover plate and assembly to adapt alternative energy supplies to electric water heaters | December 2020 | August 2023 | Allow | 32 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16973048 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COOLING HOT OBJECTS | December 2020 | December 2024 | Allow | 48 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17055548 | EMISSION ABATEMENT APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING OF PARTICULATES AND METHOD OF USING SAME | November 2020 | December 2022 | Allow | 25 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17095754 | SMART FARM SYSTEM | November 2020 | January 2023 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17054770 | WATER HEATER | November 2020 | February 2024 | Abandon | 39 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17090696 | RTP SUBSTRATE TEMPERATURE ONE FOR ALL CONTROL ALGORITHM | November 2020 | August 2024 | Allow | 45 | 4 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17048194 | JOINT CONFIGURATIONS | October 2020 | June 2024 | Abandon | 44 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 17072501 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TREATING SUBSTRATE | October 2020 | November 2023 | Allow | 37 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17038658 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING FUGITIVE EMISSION FACTOR (EF) AND LEAKAGE RATE OF COMBUSTION SOURCE | September 2020 | March 2023 | Abandon | 29 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16978543 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PLASTICIZING SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL | September 2020 | January 2024 | Allow | 40 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16944215 | FURNACE CONTROL SYSTEM, FURNACE CONTROL METHOD, AND FURNACE PROVIDED WITH SAME CONTROL SYSTEM | July 2020 | September 2023 | Abandon | 38 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16928428 | WATER HEATER APPLIANCES AND METHODS OF SABBATH OPERATION | July 2020 | September 2022 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16959310 | APPARATUS FOR MAKING A METAL PART | June 2020 | February 2023 | Abandon | 32 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 16913512 | WARM-WATER GENERATING APPARATUS | June 2020 | November 2024 | Allow | 53 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16772191 | CLINKER PRODUCTION PLANT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING CLINKER IN SUCH A PLANT | June 2020 | August 2024 | Abandon | 50 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16899767 | ORGANIC FILM FORMING APPARATUS | June 2020 | November 2023 | Allow | 41 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 15930567 | WAFER BOAT HANDLING DEVICE, VERTICAL BATCH FURNACE AND METHOD | May 2020 | June 2022 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16872775 | METHOD FOR TREATING POURABLE, INORGANIC GRAIN, AND ROTARY TUBE SUITABLE FOR PERFORMING THE METHOD | May 2020 | March 2023 | Allow | 34 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16868673 | HOT WATER CIRCULATING APPARATUS | May 2020 | June 2023 | Abandon | 37 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 16822589 | WATER HEATER | March 2020 | October 2022 | Allow | 31 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16815010 | HOT WATER SUPPLY DEVICE | March 2020 | April 2022 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16642404 | METHOD FOR HEATING A METAL COMPONENT TO A TARGET TEMPERATURE AND CORRESPONDING ROLLER HEARTH FURNACE | February 2020 | November 2022 | Allow | 32 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16800703 | CLOSED LOOP CONTROL WITH CAMERA DETECTION OF PEBBLE SIZE OF LIME PARTICLES TO AMELIORATE LIME KILN RINGING and IMPROVE UPTIME and OPERATING EFFICIENCY | February 2020 | April 2023 | Allow | 37 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16780460 | TEMPERATURE OFFSET AND ZONE CONTROL TUNING | February 2020 | May 2024 | Allow | 51 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16873065 | MANUALLY CONTROLLED AND OPERABLE SELF-PROPELLED SEED BED STERILIZATION SYSTEM AND METHOD TO PREVENT WEEDS | January 2020 | September 2022 | Allow | 31 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16750189 | CONTROL METHOD OF HEAT MEDIUM AND HEAT MEDIUM CONTROL APPARATUS | January 2020 | August 2023 | Abandon | 43 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16744043 | INDUSTRIAL OVEN WITH FABRIC DUCT | January 2020 | August 2023 | Allow | 43 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 16630538 | Method for Reducing Nitrogen Oxides In Strip Heat Treatment Furnaces | January 2020 | April 2024 | Allow | 51 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16735894 | TEMPERATURE CONTROL DEVICE FOR FLUIDS | January 2020 | August 2022 | Abandon | 31 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner WOLFORD, KURT JOSEPH.
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, 100.0% 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.
✓ Filing a Notice of Appeal is strategically valuable. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.
Examiner WOLFORD, KURT JOSEPH works in Art Unit 3762 and has examined 113 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 70.8%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 32 months.
Examiner WOLFORD, KURT JOSEPH's allowance rate of 70.8% places them in the 25% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.
On average, applications examined by WOLFORD, KURT JOSEPH receive 1.95 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 62% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues a slightly above-average number of office actions.
The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by WOLFORD, KURT JOSEPH is 32 months. This places the examiner in the 34% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly slower than average with this examiner.
Conducting an examiner interview provides a +40.2% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by WOLFORD, KURT JOSEPH. This interview benefit is in the 89% 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, 29.2% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 45% 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 39.5% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 53% 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.
This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 100.0% of appeals filed. This is in the 99% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: This examiner frequently reconsiders rejections during the appeal process compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 1207.01, all appeals must go through a mandatory appeal conference. Filing a Notice of Appeal may prompt favorable reconsideration even before you file an Appeal Brief.
When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 0.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 5% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions are rarely granted regarding this examiner's actions compared to other examiners. Ensure you have a strong procedural basis before filing a petition, as the Technology Center Director typically upholds this examiner's decisions.
Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 41% 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 10.0% of allowed cases (in the 88% 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.