USPTO Art Unit 3731 Prosecution Statistics

Art Unit Information

Art Unit: 3731
Group: 3730
Tech Center: 3700
Total Cases: 27,809
Last Active: September 2025

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19325635PISTON-TYPE OIL TANK WITH SAFETY VALVE AND A RIVETING TOOLSeptember 2025March 2026Allow610NoNo
19260283AUTOMATIC CAN FOOD FEEDER AND RELATED METHODJuly 2025March 2026Allow800NoNo
19260200STRIKER DRIVING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC NAIL GUNJuly 2025November 2025Allow510NoNo
19246946Fully Automated Filling Line for Tissue Culture Flasks and Control Method ThereforJune 2025February 2026Allow810NoNo
19247514MATERIAL COMBINATIONS AND PROCESSING METHODS FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENTJune 2025March 2026Allow900NoNo
19231845METHODS FOR IMPROVING UNIT LOAD EFFICIENCYJune 2025March 2026Allow900YesNo
19230794RING PACKAGER AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF FOR PACKAGING COILED MATERIALJune 2025August 2025Allow200NoNo
19223476MANUFACTURING LINE FOR MANUFACTURING A COMPOSTABLE POD FOR BREWING PRODUCTS AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING AND REGULATING THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF A BIODEGRADABLE PAPER-BASED MATERIALMay 2025March 2026Allow900YesNo
19219259STRETCH FILM SUPPLY ROLL FOR REUSE APPLICATIONSMay 2025August 2025Allow300NoNo
19218512Handheld work apparatusMay 2025February 2026Allow900YesNo
19214839FASTENER DRIVING TOOL INCLUDING A NOSEPIECE ASSEMBLY AND A NOSE POSITIONERMay 2025February 2026Allow900NoNo
19214634System and method for boxing productsMay 2025February 2026Allow900NoNo
19214226VACUUM PUMPING DEVICEMay 2025October 2025Allow510NoNo
19213691Packing System For Heat SetMay 2025January 2026Abandon800NoNo
18875710POWER HEAD OF DIRECTIONAL DRILLMay 2025February 2026Allow1400NoNo
19204002FOOT REPAIR DEVICEMay 2025October 2025Allow510NoNo
19202184SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR REDUCING MULTI-CONTAINER PACKING ERRORSMay 2025November 2025Allow621YesNo
19194885BALE WRAP ASSEMBLY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR AN AGRICULTURAL HARVESTERApril 2025March 2026Allow1000NoNo
19191413NAIL GUN AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOFApril 2025October 2025Allow610NoNo
19188608INSULATED CONTAINER AND METHOD OF FORMING AND LOADING AN INSULATED CONTAINERApril 2025August 2025Allow410NoNo
19188540NAIL GUN AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOFApril 2025February 2026Allow900NoNo
19183461TOOL FOR COUNTERSINKING STAPLES AND METHODS OF USEApril 2025June 2025Allow200NoNo
19172893DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FOLDING SHEETSApril 2025September 2025Allow611YesNo
19172197IMPACT TOOLApril 2025March 2026Allow1110YesNo
19172356ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT HEAT-SHRINK SHEATH THERMAL CHAMBERApril 2025July 2025Allow300NoNo
19169268HAMMER DRILLApril 2025October 2025Allow700NoNo
19117433METHOD FOR FILLING A PLASTIC CONTAINERApril 2025October 2025Allow700NoNo
19094690PACKAGING DEVICE, WOUND BODY, CORE TUBE, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING WOUND BODY, AND WOUND MATERIALMarch 2025January 2026Allow1000NoNo
19086988SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED HANDLING OF ELASTICALLY COMPRESSIBLE ARTICLESMarch 2025October 2025Allow710NoNo
18875727COMBINED DRILLING SYSTEM WITH DOUBLE ROTARY DRIVING DEVICES AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFORMarch 2025November 2025Allow1100NoNo
19083873DEVICE FOR FOLDING OF AN EDGE PORTION OF A CLOSURE CAPMarch 2025May 2025Allow200YesNo
19081141SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING ANVIL POSITION USING A RELIEF FEATUREMarch 2025February 2026Allow1100YesNo
19078628HAMMER TACKERMarch 2025October 2025Allow700YesNo
19073620GAS-BASED MATERIAL COMPRESSION AND PORTIONINGMarch 2025March 2026Allow1200NoNo
19073800ELECTROSTATIC CLUTCH FOR POWER TOOLMarch 2025May 2025Allow200NoNo
19109871SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FORMING A SLEEVE OF PAPER WRAPPING MATERIAL AROUND A LOADMarch 2025February 2026Allow1100NoNo
19109170CONFIGURATION OF A MACHINE FOR ENGAGING A CAP WITH A CONTAINERMarch 2025March 2026Allow1300NoNo
19070104LESION RESECTION METHODMarch 2025October 2025Allow700NoNo
19069894DOSING LEVER FOR FASTENER DRIVING TOOLMarch 2025January 2026Allow1100YesNo
19068239STRAP-FEEDING ASSEMBLY WITH STRAP-SIZE-ADJUSTMENT FEATURESMarch 2025February 2026Allow1200NoNo
19066247APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZED CONTAINER CONSTRUCTIONFebruary 2025October 2025Allow711NoNo
19067261POWER TOOLFebruary 2025January 2026Allow1110YesNo
19066960METHOD OF ASSEMBLING A WARDROBE BOX ASSEMBLYFebruary 2025June 2025Allow410NoNo
19065027POWER TOOLFebruary 2025November 2025Allow900NoNo
19065586Driving ToolFebruary 2025October 2025Allow800NoNo
19062249POWER TOOL WITH IMPULSE ASSEMBLYFebruary 2025January 2026Allow1110YesNo
19058358POWER TOOL AND IMPACT TOOLFebruary 2025February 2026Allow1110YesNo
19057443IMPACT TOOLFebruary 2025February 2026Allow1210NoNo
19056293LIFT ASSEMBLY AND ELECTRIC NAIL GUN HAVING THE SAMEFebruary 2025March 2026Allow1310NoNo
19056565CONTAINER CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM AND/OR METHODFebruary 2025February 2026Allow1220YesNo
19055908TRI-FOLD MACHINE AND PROCESSFebruary 2025January 2026Allow1100NoNo
19053801AUTONOMOUS DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR QUEUING FOLDED LAUNDRYFebruary 2025February 2026Allow1200NoNo
19053618Working MachineFebruary 2025February 2026Allow1200NoNo
19045907VARIABLE MOMENT VIBRATORY SYSTEMS AND METHODSFebruary 2025February 2026Allow1200NoNo
19044700MULTILINE VERTICAL AUTOMATIC FILLING AND PACKAGING MACHINE AND HOPPERFebruary 2025October 2025Allow800NoNo
19044574Pulp Container with Fused Junction and Method of Making SameFebruary 2025February 2026Allow1200NoNo
19044285TORQUE STICK FOR A ROTARY IMPACT TOOLFebruary 2025October 2025Allow900NoNo
19043967CONVEYANCE APPARATUS AND CONVEYANCE METHODFebruary 2025January 2026Allow1200NoNo
19043471Method for storing objects by balloon and inserting tubeFebruary 2025March 2025Allow100NoNo
19042978BOXING DEVICEJanuary 2025March 2026Allow1310NoNo
19040946Paperboard Packaging Container And LidJanuary 2025February 2026Allow1300NoNo
19041364AUTONOMOUS DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR SORTING AND PACKING FOLDED HOUSEHOLD LAUNDRYJanuary 2025February 2026Allow1300NoNo
19040978SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATED PACKAGING AND PROCESSING CONTAINERS FOR SHIPPING WITH PLACE STACK TRANSFER MANAGEMENTJanuary 2025January 2026Allow1200NoNo
19040129OPERATING LEVER MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC HANDHELD WORKING MACHINEJanuary 2025December 2025Allow1100NoNo
19099640APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY FORMING CASINGS FOR SMOKING ARTICLES INCLUDING A FILTERJanuary 2025December 2025Allow1100NoNo
19037336MEDICAL STAPLERJanuary 2025March 2026Allow1410NoNo
19037149BAGMAKING AND PACKAGING APPARATUSJanuary 2025January 2026Allow1200NoNo
19036110IMPACT TOOLJanuary 2025November 2025Allow1000NoNo
19035215PRIMARY PACKAGING LINE FOR OPHTHALMIC ARTICLESJanuary 2025January 2026Allow1210NoNo
19034087WORKING MACHINEJanuary 2025October 2025Allow900NoNo
19029178FASTENER CARTRIDGE COMPRISING NON-UNIFORM FASTENERSJanuary 2025January 2026Allow1200NoNo
19029607SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN ADAPTIVE CONTROL SYSTEMJanuary 2025March 2026Allow1310NoNo
19029023SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A SEALABLE INTERFACEJanuary 2025January 2026Allow1200NoNo
19029148SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONFIGURING A POWER TOOL WITH AN IMPACT MECHANISMJanuary 2025February 2026Allow1300NoNo
19027255Staple Inserter with Push-Button ReleaseJanuary 2025December 2025Allow1110NoNo
19029524DIE ROLL FOR FORMING SOFT GEL CAPSULESJanuary 2025March 2026Allow1410NoNo
19029623PHARMACY PACKAGING SYSTEMJanuary 2025February 2026Allow1310NoNo
19028418STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING FORMATION SUPPORT FEATURESJanuary 2025December 2025Allow1110NoNo
19027743Cotton Module Unwrapping Systems, Methods, and ApparatusesJanuary 2025January 2026Allow1200NoNo
19024199SEALING MACHINE WITH NOTCH-CUTTING FUNCTIONJanuary 2025September 2025Allow800YesNo
19023355MATERIAL ENCAPSULATION DEVICEJanuary 2025April 2025Allow300NoNo
19024230SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A SEGMENTED CIRCUITJanuary 2025December 2025Allow1100NoNo
19022263PHARMACEUTICAL COUNTING AND PACKAGING DEVICEJanuary 2025February 2026Allow1310NoNo
19019951HIGH RESOLUTION ANVIL ANGLE SENSORJanuary 2025February 2026Allow1310NoNo
18994272POWERED SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE WITH END EFFECTOR ARTICULATIONJanuary 2025January 2026Allow1200NoNo
19018672ASSEMBLIES FOR STERILIZING A WET STORED PROSTHETIC HEART VALVEJanuary 2025October 2025Allow900YesNo
19016186SHAFT ATTACHMENT AND DETACHMENT APPARATUSJanuary 2025March 2026Allow1401NoNo
19016331POWERED FASTENER DRIVERJanuary 2025February 2026Allow1310YesNo
18993375BALE BUNDLING SYSTEM, BALE BUNDLING MACHINE AND PROCEDURE FOR FORMING BUNDLES OF BALES OF HAY OR SIMILAR MATERIALJanuary 2025March 2025Allow200NoNo
19016987SURGICAL STAPLER HAVING A POWERED HANDLEJanuary 2025March 2026Allow1410NoNo
19015863WELDING STATION AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PACKAGE COMPRISING A HEAT-SEALED WRAPPINGJanuary 2025January 2026Allow1310NoNo
19016360WATER-SOLUBLE FILM AND CHEMICAL AGENT PACKAGE, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING CHEMICAL AGENT PACKAGEJanuary 2025October 2025Allow900NoNo
19015034FASTENER DRIVING APPARATUS AND METHODSJanuary 2025March 2026Allow1410YesNo
19013148HANDHELD ELECTROMECHANICAL SURGICAL SYSTEMJanuary 2025September 2025Allow800YesNo
19013490POWER TOOLS WITH IMPROVED COOLINGJanuary 2025January 2026Allow1310NoNo
19013321POWER TOOL HAVING A HAMMER MECHANISMJanuary 2025October 2025Allow1000NoNo
19011799INSULATED CONTAINER AND METHOD OF FORMING AND LOADING AN INSULATED CONTAINERJanuary 2025March 2026Allow1400NoNo
19011979METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING PAPER CONTAINERJanuary 2025March 2026Allow1410NoNo
19011002DUAL-MODE STAPLERJanuary 2025October 2025Allow900NoNo
19008893STAPLER WITH IMPROVED DRIVING STRUCTUREJanuary 2025September 2025Allow800YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for art-unit 3731.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
889
Examiner Affirmed
484
(54.4%)
Examiner Reversed
405
(45.6%)
Reversal Percentile
91.1%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 45.6% 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
2720
Allowed After Appeal Filing
981
(36.1%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
1739
(63.9%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
70.9%
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, 36.1% 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.

Art Unit 3731 - Prosecution Statistics Summary

Executive Summary

Art Unit 3731 is part of Group 3730 in Technology Center 3700. This art unit has examined 27,809 patent applications in our dataset, with an overall allowance rate of 72.5%. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 34 months.

Comparative Analysis

Art Unit 3731's allowance rate of 72.5% places it in the 37% percentile among all USPTO art units. This art unit has a below-average allowance rate compared to other art units.

Prosecution Patterns

Applications in Art Unit 3731 receive an average of 2.21 office actions before reaching final disposition (in the 73% percentile). The median prosecution time is 34 months (in the 34% percentile).

Strategic Considerations

When prosecuting applications in this art unit, consider the following:

  • The art unit's allowance rate suggests a more challenging examination environment compared to the USPTO average.
  • With more office actions than average, plan for relatively streamlined prosecution.
  • The median prosecution time is longer than average and should be factored into your continuation and client communication strategies.
  • Review individual examiner statistics within this art unit to identify examiners with particularly favorable or challenging prosecution patterns.

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.