USPTO Art Unit 3731 Prosecution Statistics

Art Unit Information

Art Unit: 3731
Group: 3730
Tech Center: 3700
Total Cases: 28,845
Last Active: March 2025

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19073800ELECTROSTATIC CLUTCH FOR POWER TOOLMarch 2025May 2025Allow200NoNo
19066960METHOD OF ASSEMBLING A WARDROBE BOX ASSEMBLYFebruary 2025June 2025Allow410NoNo
19043471Method for storing objects by balloon and inserting tubeFebruary 2025March 2025Allow100NoNo
19023355MATERIAL ENCAPSULATION DEVICEJanuary 2025April 2025Allow300NoNo
18993375BALE BUNDLING SYSTEM, BALE BUNDLING MACHINE AND PROCEDURE FOR FORMING BUNDLES OF BALES OF HAY OR SIMILAR MATERIALJanuary 2025March 2025Allow200NoNo
18919098METHOD OF SECURING A CLOSURE ON A CONTAINEROctober 2024March 2025Allow510NoNo
18916820APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING A DOUBLE WALL PAPER CUPOctober 2024January 2025Allow300NoNo
18849781CORNET CONE TIP CRIMPING MACHINESeptember 2024June 2025Allow900NoNo
18889492FOUR SIDE SEAL PACKAGING BAG AND PREPARATION DEVICE AND METHOD THEREOFSeptember 2024May 2025Allow811YesNo
18888067SEPTUM-AND-BODKIN KIT FOR RESEALING A PARTIALLY DEPLETED BOTTLE OF WINESeptember 2024October 2024Allow100NoNo
18830679ASEPTIC FILLING METHOD AND ASEPTIC FILLING MACHINESeptember 2024June 2025Allow900YesNo
18825078SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR REDUCING MULTI-CONTAINER PACKING ERRORSSeptember 2024April 2025Allow711YesNo
18842412SURGICAL STAPLERAugust 2024April 2025Allow810YesNo
18842236POWER TOOL WAKE UPAugust 2024June 2025Allow1000NoNo
18841468Round baler net wrapAugust 2024June 2025Allow1000NoNo
18814945STAPLE CARTRIDGE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMSAugust 2024May 2025Allow900NoNo
18840110PROTECTIVE COVER FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENTAugust 2024April 2025Allow810NoNo
18809883INSERTS, SPLINES, AND METHODS FOR REDUCING AND/OR ELIMINATING SPLINE CRASH IN SURGICAL INSTRUMENTSAugust 2024June 2025Allow1000NoNo
18810271SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSTALLING NAIL PLATES IN WOODEN STRUCTURESAugust 2024March 2025Allow710NoNo
18799779Motor Interface for Parallel Drive Shafts Within an Independently Rotating MemberAugust 2024June 2025Allow1000NoNo
18792228ANTI-BUCKLING ACTUATION MEMBERS FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENTAugust 2024June 2025Allow1000NoNo
18788341Adjustable Stroke Device With CamJuly 2024June 2025Allow1100NoNo
18785703ORTHOPEDIC ADAPTER FOR AN ELECTRIC IMPACTING TOOLJuly 2024February 2025Allow720NoNo
18785405Vertebral Disc AugerJuly 2024April 2025Allow900NoNo
18782918IMPACT POWER TOOL AND IMPACT MECHANISMJuly 2024May 2025Allow1000NoNo
18777981COUPLING UNIT, COUPLING METHOD AND COUPLING APPARATUS FOR THE COUPLING BETWEEN A COMPONENT AND A CONTAINERJuly 2024May 2025Allow1000YesNo
18776487ROBOTIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENT INCLUDING HIGH ARTICULATION WRIST ASSEMBLY WITH TORQUE TRANSMISSION AND MECHANICAL MANIPULATIONJuly 2024June 2025Allow1100NoNo
18775748ROLL SUBSYSTEMS FOR ROBOTIC STAPLING AND CUTTING SYSTEMSJuly 2024May 2025Allow1000NoNo
18772086IMPULSE HEAT SEALING OF A HEAT-SEALABLE FILM MATERIALJuly 2024June 2025Allow1110YesNo
18771773DUST COLLECTOR WITH FILTER CLEANING MECHANISMJuly 2024March 2025Allow900YesNo
18771480CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A BALE WRAPPING DEVICEJuly 2024April 2025Allow910NoNo
18770335HIGH-PRECISION VERTICAL TURNOVER MACHINE AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING A PHOTOVOLTAIC ASSEMBLYJuly 2024September 2024Allow300NoNo
18765964Hermetic, Insecticidal Food Storage Bag, Use of It and a Method for Its ProductionJuly 2024April 2025Allow920YesNo
18766379SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DRIVING A SIGN INTO THE GROUNDJuly 2024December 2024Allow510NoNo
18764537SURGICAL STAPLES COMPRISING HARDNESS VARIATIONS FOR IMPROVED FASTENING OF TISSUESJuly 2024February 2025Allow700NoNo
18763309HIGH SPEED POUCHERJuly 2024May 2025Allow1100NoNo
18761745SCREW CAP, TOOL AND METHOD FOR SCREWING A CAP ONTO A CONTAINERJuly 2024April 2025Allow1000YesNo
18761736VEHICULAR FIREARM MAGAZINE HOLDING DEVICEJuly 2024May 2025Allow1030YesNo
18760844ARTICULATING MICROSURGICAL INSTRUMENTJuly 2024May 2025Allow1100NoNo
18760671SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE WITH LOCKOUT SYSTEM FOR PREVENTING ACTUATION IN THE ABSENCE OF AN INSTALLED STAPLE CARTRIDGEJuly 2024January 2025Allow600NoNo
18758290APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A LID TO A SUPPORT CONTAINING A PRODUCTJune 2024June 2025Allow1100NoNo
18756597MATERIAL COMBINATIONS AND PROCESSING METHODS FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENTJune 2024March 2025Allow900NoNo
18724690APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY PRODUCING TUBULAR ELEMENTSJune 2024May 2025Allow1100YesNo
18754672INSULATED CONTAINER AND METHOD OF FORMING AND LOADING AN INSULATED CONTAINERJune 2024November 2024Allow520YesNo
18724116PACKING SYSTEM FOR HEAT SETJune 2024February 2025Allow800NoNo
18752464Tape Head Assist AssemblyJune 2024April 2025Allow910NoNo
18751864SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LAMINATING PAPERJune 2024June 2025Abandon1211YesNo
18723462AUTOMATIC CONDITIONING STATION FOR FROZEN FOODSJune 2024February 2025Allow810NoNo
18723437APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STRAIGHTENING A PACKAGEJune 2024November 2024Allow500NoNo
18723054WIRE STITCHING APPARATUS WITH MISSING STAPLE PIN DETECTION MECHANISMJune 2024May 2025Allow1100NoNo
18749787SELF-PROPELLED RESIDUAL FILM RECYCLING INTEGRATED MACHINEJune 2024December 2024Allow610NoNo
18749671MASON JAR SEALING DEVICEJune 2024December 2024Allow610NoNo
18722006FILL MATERIAL CUTTING SYSTEMS FOR PARTIALLY OR FULLY CUTTING FILL MATERIALJune 2024June 2025Allow1110NoNo
18720313A HAMMERING DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR OPERATING A HAMMERING DEVICEJune 2024December 2024Allow600NoNo
18719389RAM BLOCK ARRANGEMENT AND PILING HAMMER USING ELECTRIC MACHINEJune 2024October 2024Allow400NoNo
18741362VACUUM AIR EXTRACTION DEVICE WITH HIGH PRACTICALITY AND RELIABILITYJune 2024May 2025Allow1120NoNo
18738164DRYING AGENT BAG SHAPING AND PUSHING DEVICE AND FULLY AUTOMATIC WAFER PACKAGING SYSTEMJune 2024October 2024Allow510NoNo
18718133SEED-ON-PAPER-BAND PACKAGING MACHINE SUITABLE FOR PLOT BREEDING AND WORKING METHOD THEREOFJune 2024March 2025Allow1010YesNo
18737292HIGH-POWER CORDLESS, HAND-HELD POWER TOOL INCLUDING A BRUSHLESS DIRECT CURRENT MOTORJune 2024March 2025Allow1020YesNo
18737477IMPACT TOOL WITH A MULTI-PIECE ANVIL ASSEMBLYJune 2024March 2025Allow920NoNo
18735305ROUND BALE GROUND PLACEMENT ORIENTATION DURING BALER EJECTIONJune 2024April 2025Allow1000NoNo
18736309CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLY AND SURGICAL STAPLERJune 2024April 2025Allow1100NoNo
18716598COMPACT MECHANICAL WAVEGUIDES FOR IMPACT DEVICESJune 2024May 2025Allow1100NoNo
18734710CLOSURE DRIVE MECHANISM AND SURGICAL STAPLERJune 2024May 2025Allow1100NoNo
18734658STAPLER CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLIES AND RELATED DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODSJune 2024May 2025Allow1100NoNo
18734005SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HIGH-VOLUME FILLING OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRESCRIPTIONSJune 2024March 2025Allow1010NoNo
18732734HANDHELD POWER TOOL, IN PARTICULAR A SANDER, HANDHELD POWER TOOL DEVICE, PROTECTIVE DEVICE, HANDHELD POWER TOOL SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A HANDHELD POWER TOOL DEVICEJune 2024May 2025Allow1100NoNo
18733607SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING FLEX CIRCUITJune 2024March 2025Allow1001NoNo
18731989HOUSEHOLD VACUUM SEALERJune 2024September 2024Allow410YesNo
18715823METHOD OF CONTROLLING AN ELECTRIC MOTOR OF A TIGHTENING TOOLJune 2024November 2024Allow500NoNo
18679993METHOD FOR AUTHENTICATING THE COMPATIBILITY OF A STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH A SURGICAL INSTRUMENTMay 2024December 2024Allow700NoNo
18715379A METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PACKAGING PRODUCTSMay 2024May 2025Allow1100NoNo
18731167FILLER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF FILLING A POUCHMay 2024April 2025Allow1100YesNo
18678882STAPLERMay 2024April 2025Allow1100NoNo
18675450METHOD OF USING AN INFLATABLE PROTECTIVE PACKAGING FOR THE COLD CHAIN MARKETPLACEMay 2024March 2025Allow1011NoNo
18671257METHOD OF HANDLING A PLASTIC CONTAINER HAVING A MOVEABLE BASEMay 2024June 2025Abandon1310NoNo
18670804ELECTRIC SURGICAL STAPLER WITH STATE DISPLAYMay 2024July 2024Allow200NoNo
18669854ARTICULATION MECHANISM AND SURGICAL STAPLERMay 2024May 2025Allow1200NoNo
18669728OPERATING MODE DETECTION SYSTEM FOR ROTARY HAMMERMay 2024May 2025Allow1100NoNo
18831055Convenience kits for preparing medicine with an assured level of safetyMay 2024February 2025Allow801NoNo
18670408HYDRAULIC TOOL HAVING RAM PISTON WITH INTEGRATED OVERLOAD ASSEMBLYMay 2024May 2025Allow1110NoNo
18668466HYBRID SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING CONTAINERSMay 2024June 2025Abandon1310NoNo
18668962PILL CONTAINER AND METHODSMay 2024April 2025Allow1110YesNo
18668823DEVICE FOR USE IN LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY AND METHOD OF USEMay 2024December 2024Allow600NoNo
18667182METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A SURGICAL STAPLERMay 2024December 2024Allow700YesNo
18711166PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A CONTAINER FOR THE PREPARATION OF A BEVERAGE IN A BEVERAGE PREPARATION DEVICE AND A CONTAINER OBTAINED BY SAID PROCESSMay 2024April 2025Allow1100NoNo
18664808METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING A BLISTER TUBE, AND BLISTER TUBEMay 2024February 2025Allow910NoNo
18710362CLOTHES FOLDING MACHINEMay 2024April 2025Allow1100NoNo
18663770POWER TOOL UTILIZING OPTICAL FIBERS TO OUTPUT LIGHTMay 2024June 2025Allow1300NoNo
18663042SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DYNAMIC ROTARY BLOW-FILL-SEAL (BFS) MACHINE COOLINGMay 2024June 2025Allow1300NoNo
18662901MACHINE FOR FORMING A CONTAINER FROM A BLANKMay 2024December 2024Allow700NoNo
18660500DRIVING TOOLMay 2024April 2025Allow1200NoNo
18661028LOCKOUT ENGAGEMENT FEATURES FOR SURGICAL STAPLERMay 2024January 2025Allow800NoNo
18659248OSCILLATING POWER TOOL WITH ADJUSTABLE ANGULAR AMPLITUDE OF OSCILLATIONMay 2024February 2025Allow910NoNo
18659609Robotic tool comprising an articulation lockMay 2024June 2025Allow1410NoNo
18658430SELF-ACTUATING MECHANICALLY-BIASED CONTAINER RESTRAINTMay 2024December 2024Allow700NoNo
18657739HIGH EFFICIENCY TORSION SPRING TACKERMay 2024March 2025Allow1010NoNo
18656079ROBOTIC SURGICAL TOOL WITH DROP IN INSTRUMENTATION COREMay 2024January 2025Allow900NoNo
18654812STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A TISSUE THICKNESS COMPENSATORMay 2024April 2025Allow1110NoNo
18653072AUTOMATIC SYSTEM HEAT FUSION-TYPE BINDING MACHINE FOR GARDENING AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOFMay 2024June 2025Allow1400NoNo

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
802
Examiner Affirmed
434
(54.1%)
Examiner Reversed
368
(45.9%)
Reversal Percentile
90.8%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 45.9% 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
2516
Allowed After Appeal Filing
926
(36.8%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
1590
(63.2%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
70.4%
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, 36.8% 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.

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 28,845 patent applications in our dataset, with an overall allowance rate of 74.0%. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 32 months.

Comparative Analysis

Art Unit 3731's allowance rate of 74.0% places it in the 38% 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 2.09 office actions before reaching final disposition (in the 72% percentile). The median prosecution time is 32 months (in the 35% 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.