request for continued examination
request for continued examination. Patents. A means of negating the final action on a patent so that the applicant can file amendments, new claims, etc. to show that the invention is patentable as of the original application date. • Unlike a continuation application, a request for continued examination keeps a patent alive as if no final decision had been made. It allows prosecution of claims that have been rejected in a final office action to continue. — Abbr. RCE. Cf. CONTINUATION. [Cases: Patents 104. C.J.S. Patents §§ 145–147, 149–151, 173–175.]
