Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 27, 2026

Nicole Ashley Szumigalski, USPTO Patent Examiner

Listed by the USPTO as SZUMIGALSKI, NICOLE ASHLEY

Tech Center 1700 • Art Units: 1747 1755 1798

This examiner grants 55% of resolved cases

Analysis

SZUMIGALSKI, NICOLE ASHLEY works in Tech Center 1700 and art unit 1747. The profile covers 47 resolved cases, a 55.3% allowance rate, and a 25.6% interview lift. The median time to allowance is 1276 days. The limited record calls for measured interpretation, while the positive interview figure supports including examiner discussions in the prosecution plan.

The leading companies are Nicoventures Trading Limited, Philip Morris International Inc., and JT International S.A. The listed firms are MERCHANT & GOULD P.C. - BAT, OBLON, MCCLELLAND, MAIER & NEUSTADT, L.L.P., and WOMBLE BOND DICKINSON (US) LLP. These names provide tobacco and consumer-product context for the docket.

Written from this page's own data; every figure is computed from USPTO records and verified before publication.

Performance Statistics

55.3%
Allow Rate
-9.7% vs TC avg
105
Total Applications
+25.6%
Interview Lift
1276
Avg Prosecution Days
Based on 47 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Rejection Statute Breakdown

2.1%
§101 Eligibility
17.4%
§102 Novelty
65.0%
§103 Obviousness
14.0%
§112 Clarity

Currently Pending Office Actions

App #TitleStatusAssignee
18571469 AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE Non-Final OA Nicoventures Trading Limited
18571332 PACKAGING FOR A NON-COMBUSTIBLE AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM Non-Final OA Nicoventures Trading Limited
18550552 A COMPONENT FOR AN ARTICLE FOR USE IN AN AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM Final Rejection Nicoventures Trading Limited
18252742 AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE Final Rejection NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
18040747 AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE AND CONSUMABLE THEREFOR Final Rejection Nicoventures Trading Limited
17756506 ELECTRONIC AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM Final Rejection Nicoventures Trading Limited
17769550 AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM AND METHOD Final Rejection Nicoventures Trading Limited
17767710 AEROSOL GENERATING ARTICLE Final Rejection Nicoventures Trading Limited
17437850 AEROSOL GENERATION Non-Final OA NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
18853210 AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE AND AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM COMPRISING AN INTERNAL HEATING ELEMENT Non-Final OA Philip Morris Products S.A.
18245397 AN AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM AND A CARTRIDGE FOR AN AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM WITH A SEALED LIQUID RESERVOIR Final Rejection Philip Morris Products S.A.
17905024 AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE WITH IMPROVED CONFIGURATION Non-Final OA Philip Morris Products S.A.
17615240 AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE COMPRISING AN AEROSOL-COOLING ELEMENT WITH AN ELONGATED PROTRUSION Final Rejection Philip Morris Products S.A.
17611387 AN AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM AND A THERMAL OUTPUT ELEMENT FOR AN AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM Non-Final OA Philip Morris Products S.A.
17627012 NICOTINE MATERIALS, METHODS OF MAKING SAME, AND USES THEREOF Final Rejection The Research Foundation for the State University of New York
18698620 CARTRIDGE AND AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME Non-Final OA KT&G CORPORATION
18290260 AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE Final Rejection KT&G CORPORATION
17928258 AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME Final Rejection KT&G CORPORATION
18174024 ELECTRONIC VAPORIZATION DEVICE Non-Final OA SHENZHEN SMOORE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
18495178 PAPER FILTER FOR FLAVOR INHALATION PRODUCT Final Rejection JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
18175871 ELECTRONIC VAPORIZATION DEVICE AND VAPORIZATION CORE THEREOF Non-Final OA Hainan Moore Brothers Technology Co., Ltd.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is examiner Nicole Ashley Szumigalski's allowance rate?

55.3% of resolved applications examined by Nicole Ashley Szumigalski were allowed (47 resolved cases), compared with 38.3% across Art Unit 1747 over the last five years.

Does an interview help with examiner Nicole Ashley Szumigalski?

This examiner's interview lift is +25.6 percentage points: the difference in allowance rate between resolved applications that had an examiner interview and those that did not.

How long does examiner Nicole Ashley Szumigalski take to allow a patent?

Applications allowed by Nicole Ashley Szumigalski took 1,276 days on average from filing to allowance.

Which art unit does examiner Nicole Ashley Szumigalski work in?

Nicole Ashley Szumigalski examines applications in Art Unit 1747 in Tech Center 1700 (Chemistry & Materials).

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