human: I filed a continued prosecution application (CPA) in a 1.53(b) application that did not include a continuity claim to an earlier nonprovisional application. I now want to add the continuity claim to the earlier nonprovisional application under 35 U.S.C. 1
assistant: You will need to file: (1) a petition under 37 CFR 1.182 requesting entry of an amendment into an abandoned application; (2) the petition fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(h); and (3) an amendment to add the reference of the earlier application to the first sentence of the specification. 35 U.S.C. 120 permits the entry of a subsequent amendment in an abandoned application to include the benefit of an earlier filing date for purposes other than prosecution. See Sampson v. Commissioner , 195 USPQ 136 (D.D.C. 1976). Please note that a petition to accept an unintentionally delayed claim under 37 CFR 1.78(a)(3) and the surcharge under 37 CFR 1.17(t) are not required in the CPA since the rule specifically provides for an exception for continued prosecution applications.