Technology area: Chemistry & Materials
170 pending office actions • 3 clients • 54 examiners • 18 art units • 0 of 170 (0%) have an AI response strategy ready • 130 patents granted in the last 365 days
MERCHANT & GOULD P.C. - BAT handles patent prosecution in Chemistry & Materials, with 1,497 career applications and 170 pending office actions. Its resolved allowance rate is 94.44%, indicating that most resolved applications reached allowance.
The average of 3.85 office actions per allowance shows that successful cases commonly required multiple rounds of prosecution. For practitioners, the combination of a substantial application history and a high resolved allowance rate supports an assessment of established prosecution experience in this technology area.
Based on the USPTO statutory response window for each pending office action. 54 of the docket's apps have a known mailing date; the rest are excluded from the tile counts.
Every pending office action with a known statutory deadline, placed on a days-until-due axis. Dots left of Today are overdue; the further right, the more runway. Cases that share a deadline window stack vertically. 54 of the docket's apps have a known mailing date.
Difficulty is derived from the rejection statutes on the most recent pending office action. §101-driven and multi-statute cases are graded Hard; §112-only and obviousness-type double-patenting cases are graded Easy; everything else is Medium. "Unknown" means we have not yet parsed a statute for that office action.
| Bucket | Cases |
|---|---|
| §101 only | 1 (1%) |
| §101 + other | 6 (4%) |
| §103 only | 62 (36%) |
| §102 only | 6 (4%) |
| §112 only | 4 (2%) |
| Double-patenting + other | 5 (3%) |
| Multi-statute (no §101) | 86 (51%) |
How the docket's pending cases split across USPTO tech-center bands.
Manual office-action response work runs about 10 hours per case. The time-saved bands below show what IP Author's prosecution pipeline typically delivers — a conservative 20% on the low end, 35% in the middle, 50% on the high end.
| Examiner | Apps on this docket | Allow rate | Interview lift |
|---|---|---|---|
| KESSIE, JENNIFER A | 13 | 65.2% | +20.2% |
| YAARY, ERIC | 9 | 73.8% | +2.5% |
| FULTON, MICHAEL TIMOTHY | 8 | 71.4% | +6.3% |
| SPARKS, RUSSELL E | 8 | 64.1% | +14.0% |
| DELACRUZ, MADELEINE PAULINA | 7 | 63.1% | +40.7% |
| SZUMIGALSKI, NICOLE ASHLEY | 7 | 55.3% | +25.6% |
| SZEWCZYK, CYNTHIA | 7 | 73.7% | +10.1% |
| PHAM, VU PHI | 6 | 48.1% | +14.5% |
| BELYAEV, YANA | 6 | 58.3% | +31.5% |
| LE, TOBEY CHOU | 5 | 27.8% | +51.9% |
Multi-statute / §101-driven matters, or cases in front of an examiner with an allow rate under 30%. The top 8 ordered by deadline are shown.
| App # | Title | Examiner | Due in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17780147 | ELECTRONIC AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | CULBERT, COURTNEY GUENTHER | 292d overdue |
| 18260209 | AN ASSEMBLY FOR AN AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | EFTA, ALEX B | 86d overdue |
| 18001585 | AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE | SZEWCZYK, CYNTHIA | 67d overdue |
| 18550605 | A COMPONENT FOR AN ARTICLE FOR USE IN AN AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | EFTA, ALEX B | 51d overdue |
| 18550613 | A COMPONENT FOR AN ARTICLE FOR USE IN AN AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | EFTA, ALEX B | 50d overdue |
| 17600543 | CASING FOR APPARATUS, APPARATUS AND METHOD | KESSIE, JENNIFER A | 43d overdue |
| 18262988 | AEROSOL GENERATION DEVICE | SZEWCZYK, CYNTHIA | 38d overdue |
| 17907506 | HEATING ELEMENT | MILLS JR., JOE E | 31d overdue |
Cases in front of an examiner whose interview lift is 10 percentage points or more — i.e. interviewed cases historically resolve more favorably than non-interviewed ones. The top 8 ordered by deadline are shown.
| App # | Title | Examiner | Due in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18001585 | AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE | SZEWCZYK, CYNTHIA | 67d overdue |
| 17600543 | CASING FOR APPARATUS, APPARATUS AND METHOD | KESSIE, JENNIFER A | 43d overdue |
| 18262988 | AEROSOL GENERATION DEVICE | SZEWCZYK, CYNTHIA | 38d overdue |
| 17596296 | AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | KESSIE, JENNIFER A | 28d overdue |
| 16666508 | INHALATION DEVICE AND COMPONENT FOR AN INHALATION DEVICE | BELYAEV, YANA | 18d overdue |
| 18040059 | AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | PHAM, VU PHI | 8d overdue |
| 18263918 | AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | SPARKS, RUSSELL E | 5d overdue |
| 15754818 | APPARATUS FOR HEATING SMOKABLE MATERIAL | BELYAEV, YANA | 3d overdue |
| Client (Assignee) | Pending OAs |
|---|---|
| NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED | 157 |
| British American Tobacco plc | 12 |
| British American Tobacco | 1 |
| Art Unit | Apps |
|---|---|
| 1755 | 60 |
| 1747 | 56 |
| 1749 | 9 |
| 3761 | 9 |
| 1741 | 7 |
| 1745 | 5 |
| 1700 | 4 |
| 3735 | 3 |
| 3619 | 3 |
| 3991 | 2 |
| App # | Title | Client | Examiner | Art Unit | Statutes | Status | Due in | AI | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19423843 | AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | DEZENDORF, MORGAN FAITH | 1755 | §102§103DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 17, 2025 |
| 19157639 | HINGED-LID PACK AND COLLATION OF HINGED-LID PACKS | British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited | GRANO, ERNESTO ARTURIO | 3735 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 18, 2025 |
| 19241000 | AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | DELACRUZ, MADELEINE PAULINA | 1755 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 17, 2025 |
| 18857964 | APPARATUS FOR CAPACTITIVE LIQUID SENSING OF REFILLABLE ARTICLES FOR AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEMS | Nicoventures Trading Limited | ALLEN, ANDRE J | 2855 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 18, 2024 |
| 18825855 | AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | PATEL, HARSHAD C | 2831 | §102§103Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 05, 2024 |
| 18730181 | A PACKAGE | British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited | CHEUNG, CHUN HOI | 3736 | §103 | Non-Final OA | 50d | Pending | Jul 18, 2024 |
| 18730077 | PACKAGES AND WRAPPER | British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited | CHU, KING M | 3735 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | 28d overdue | Pending | Jul 18, 2024 |
| 18723443 | AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | KESSIE, JENNIFER A | 1747 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 23, 2024 |
| 18723447 | AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | DYE, ROBERT C | 3619 | §102§103DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 23, 2024 |
| 18723441 | AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | LUDWIG, PETER L | 3627 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 23, 2024 |
| 18722885 | AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | EFTA, ALEX B | 1745 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 21, 2024 |
| 18722664 | CARTOMISER | Nicoventures Trading Limited | DIYAN, OLUWATOSIN OLUWATUMININ | 1755 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 21, 2024 |
| 18722914 | CARTOMISER | Nicoventures Trading Limited | PHAM, VU PHI | 1755 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 21, 2024 |
| 18722845 | PROVISION SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | JUENGST, BRENDON THOMAS | 1749 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 21, 2024 |
| 18722770 | AEROSOL DELIVERY SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | JUENGST, BRENDON THOMAS | 1749 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 21, 2024 |
| 18722115 | AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | CEFARATTI, JOSEPH ARTHUR | 1749 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 20, 2024 |
| 18722257 | AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | KESSIE, JENNIFER A | 1747 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 20, 2024 |
| 18722140 | AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | NNABUGWU, HANNAH CHINWE | 1747 | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 20, 2024 |
| 18722061 | AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | KESSIE, JENNIFER A | 1747 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 20, 2024 |
| 18721249 | ARTICLE FOR USE WITH AN APPARATUS FOR HEATING AEROSOLISABLE MATERIAL | Nicoventures Trading Limited | CEFARATTI, JOSEPH ARTHUR | 1749 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 18, 2024 |
| 18673414 | APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING SMOKABLE MATERIAL | Nicoventures Trading Limited | YAARY, ERIC | 1755 | §102§103§112Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 24, 2024 |
| 18711662 | APPARATUS FOR HEATING AEROSOL GENERATING MATERIAL | Nicoventures Trading Limited | JUENGST, BRENDON THOMAS | 1749 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 20, 2024 |
| 18700862 | APPARATUS FOR CUTTING A SHEET OF AEROSOL-GENERATING MATERIAL | Nicoventures Trading Limited | WARD, THOMAS JOHN | 3761 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Apr 12, 2024 |
| 18699528 | AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE COMPRISING A WARMING ELEMENT | Nicoventures Trading Limited | LE, TOBEY CHOU | 1747 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Apr 08, 2024 |
| 18697606 | TAMPER INDICATING PACKAGE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | NEWHOUSE, NATHAN JEFFREY | 3734 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Apr 01, 2024 |
| 18693329 | AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | LE, TOBEY CHOU | 1747 | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 19, 2024 |
| 18692512 | AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | MOORE, STEPHANIE LYNN | 1747 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 15, 2024 |
| 18692456 | ARTICLE WITH COMBUSTION RETARDING PROPERTIES AND USES THEREOF | Nicoventures Trading Limited | FULTON, MICHAEL TIMOTHY | 1747 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 15, 2024 |
| 18688997 | REFILLING DEVICE AND METHOD | Nicoventures Trading Limited | FIGG, LAURA B | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 04, 2024 | |
| 18592585 | ELECTRONIC VAPOR PROVISION DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | YAARY, ERIC | 1755 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Mar 01, 2024 |
| 18684480 | A PACKAGE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | RODRIGUEZ MOLINA, MARCOS JAVIER | 3735 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 16, 2024 |
| 18683280 | AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | MOORE, STEPHANIE LYNN | 1747 | §102§103§112DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 13, 2024 |
| 18681150 | CONSUMABLE FOR USE WITH AN AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | MOORE, STEPHANIE LYNN | 1747 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 05, 2024 |
| 18681116 | A CONSUMABLE FOR USE WITH AN AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | MARTIN, JOHN MITCHELL | 1755 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 05, 2024 |
| 18681128 | A CONSUMABLE FOR USE WITH AN AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | SPARKS, RUSSELL E | 1755 | §102§103§112DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 05, 2024 |
| 18293057 | AN ARTICLE FOR USE WITH A NON-COMBUSTIBLE AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | SPARKS, RUSSELL E | 1755 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 29, 2024 |
| 18420496 | AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | LE, TOBEY CHOU | 1747 | §102§103Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 23, 2024 |
| 18291102 | SELECTIVE DECARBOXYLATION AEROSOL DELIVERY SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | DYE, ROBERT C | 3619 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jan 22, 2024 |
| 18290973 | DELIVERY SYSTEM COMPRISING AN AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE AND AN AERSOLISABLE MATERIAL | Nicoventures Trading Limited | NNABUGWU, HANNAH CHINWE | 1747 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 22, 2024 |
| 18290955 | AEROSOL GENERATION AND DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR CARBOXYLATED ACTIVES | Nicoventures Trading Limited | MULLEN, MICHAEL PATRICK | 1747 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 22, 2024 |
| 18290717 | AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | LE, TOBEY CHOU | 1747 | §103Other | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jan 19, 2024 |
| 18580765 | AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | SPARKS, RUSSELL E | 1755 | §112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 19, 2024 |
| 18290733 | AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | GRAY, LINDA LAMEY | 1745 | §112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jan 19, 2024 |
| 18290612 | AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | NNABUGWU, HANNAH CHINWE | 1747 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 19, 2024 |
| 18580873 | AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | MCKANE, ELIZABETH L | 3991 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jan 19, 2024 |
| 18580751 | AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | YAARY, ERIC | §102§103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jan 19, 2024 | |
| 18573872 | AN ARTICLE FOR USE WITH A NON-COMBUSTIBLE AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | MCKANE, ELIZABETH L | 3991 | §102§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Dec 22, 2023 |
| 18573854 | AN ARTICLE FOR USE WITH A NON-COMBUSTIBLE AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | NGUYEN, PHU HOANG | 1747 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 22, 2023 |
| 18573885 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING ARTICLES FOR USE AS OR IN AN AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | SPARKS, RUSSELL E | 1755 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 22, 2023 |
| 18392786 | HEATING SMOKEABLE MATERIAL | Nicoventures Trading Limited | SPARKS, RUSSELL E | 1755 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 21, 2023 |
IP Author helps law firms respond to office actions faster with AI-generated responses, examiner analytics, and prosecution intelligence.
Start Free Trial94.4% of resolved applications prosecuted by Merchant & Gould P.C. - Bat were allowed, across 1,497 applications in USPTO records.
3.85 office actions per allowed application on average.
170 pending office actions as of October 2026, for 3 clients, before 54 examiners in 18 art units.
