Prosecution Insights
Prosecution Insights
Technology area: Chemistry & Materials
157 pending office actions • 3 clients • 51 examiners • 18 art units • 0 of 157 (0%) have an AI response strategy ready • 129 patents granted in the last 365 days
MERCHANT & GOULD P.C. - BAT focuses on the Chemistry & Materials technology area. The firm has managed 1480 career applications with a resolved allowance rate of 94.38 percent. Prosecution typically involves 3.8 office actions per allowance. There are currently 113 pending office actions.
The 94.38 percent allowance rate demonstrates a strong ability to secure patents in the chemistry sector. The 3.8 office actions per allowance suggest a standard level of engagement with the patent office. Managing 113 pending office actions requires significant resources to maintain this high success rate across a large and active portfolio.
Based on the USPTO statutory response window for each pending office action. 50 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. 50 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 | 59 (38%) |
| §102 only | 6 (4%) |
| §112 only | 3 (2%) |
| Double-patenting + other | 5 (3%) |
| Multi-statute (no §101) | 77 (49%) |
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 | 11 | 65.4% | +19.9% |
| SPARKS, RUSSELL E | 9 | 64.0% | +14.1% |
| DELACRUZ, MADELEINE PAULINA | 8 | 64.1% | +39.6% |
| FULTON, MICHAEL TIMOTHY | 7 | 70.9% | +7.2% |
| SZUMIGALSKI, NICOLE ASHLEY | 7 | 55.3% | +25.6% |
| SZEWCZYK, CYNTHIA | 7 | 73.6% | +10.1% |
| YAARY, ERIC | 6 | 73.8% | +2.5% |
| PHAM, VU PHI | 5 | 46.2% | +17.1% |
| LE, TOBEY CHOU | 5 | 27.8% | +51.9% |
| MOORE, STEPHANIE LYNN | 5 | 61.2% | +38.6% |
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 |
| 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 |
| 18730077 | PACKAGES AND WRAPPER | CHU, KING M | 28d overdue |
| 17596296 | AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | KESSIE, JENNIFER A | 28d 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 |
| 18040059 | AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | PHAM, VU PHI | 8d overdue |
| 18263918 | AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | SPARKS, RUSSELL E | 5d overdue |
| 16766435 | SMOKING ARTICLE | MOORE, STEPHANIE LYNN | 3d overdue |
| 17907448 | DELIVERY SYSTEM | PHAM, VU PHI | 6d |
| Client (Assignee) | Pending OAs |
|---|---|
| NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED | 144 |
| British American Tobacco plc | 12 |
| British American Tobacco | 1 |
| Art Unit | Apps |
|---|---|
| 1755 | 53 |
| 1747 | 49 |
| 1749 | 10 |
| 1741 | 7 |
| 1700 | 7 |
| 1745 | 6 |
| 3735 | 4 |
| 3761 | 4 |
| 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 |
| 19157637 | A HINGED-LID PACK | British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited | NEWAY, BLAINE GIRMA | 3735 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 18, 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 |
| 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 |
| 18730181 | A PACKAGE | British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited | CHEUNG, CHUN HOI | 3736 | §103 | Non-Final OA | 50d | Pending | Jul 18, 2024 |
| 18723441 | AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | LUDWIG, PETER L | 3627 | §102§103 | 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 |
| 18723443 | AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | KESSIE, JENNIFER A | 1747 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 23, 2024 |
| 18722845 | PROVISION SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | JUENGST, BRENDON THOMAS | 1749 | §102§103 | 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 |
| 18722770 | AEROSOL DELIVERY SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | JUENGST, BRENDON THOMAS | 1749 | §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 |
| 18722885 | AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | EFTA, ALEX B | 1745 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 21, 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 18711662 | APPARATUS FOR HEATING AEROSOL GENERATING MATERIAL | Nicoventures Trading Limited | JUENGST, BRENDON THOMAS | 1749 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 20, 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 |
| 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 |
| 18692512 | AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | MOORE, STEPHANIE LYNN | 1747 | §102§103 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 18291102 | SELECTIVE DECARBOXYLATION AEROSOL DELIVERY SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | DYE, ROBERT C | 3619 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jan 22, 2024 |
| 18580751 | AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | YAARY, ERIC | §102§103 | 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 |
| 18580873 | AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | MCKANE, ELIZABETH L | 3991 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jan 19, 2024 |
| 18290717 | AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | LE, TOBEY CHOU | 1747 | §103Other | 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 |
| 18392620 | MOUTHPIECE | Nicoventures Trading Limited | SCHNEIDER, THOMAS FRANK | 1749 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Dec 21, 2023 |
| 18392786 | HEATING SMOKEABLE MATERIAL | Nicoventures Trading Limited | SPARKS, RUSSELL E | 1755 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 21, 2023 |
| 18571297 | A COMPONENT FOR USE IN A NON-COMBUSTIBLE AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM | Nicoventures Trading Limited | FULTON, MICHAEL TIMOTHY | 1747 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 18, 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 1,489 applications in USPTO records.
3.81 office actions per allowed application on average.
157 pending office actions as of October 2026, for 3 clients, before 51 examiners in 18 art units.