What is the effect of filing a Continuation application before the original is granted?

Filing a Continuation application before the original application is granted allows the applicant to refine their arguments and further pursue additional claims based on the original specification. This process provides an opportunity to address any rejections made during the examination of the original application or to explore different claim strategies that may lead to patentability.

A Continuation application essentially allows for a new set of claims to be examined, which may be more tailored to overcome the issues identified by the examiner in the original application. This can be particularly valuable if the applicant has received feedback during the examination process that informs their approach to the new claims.

By allowing the applicant to enhance or adjust their claims and arguments, the Continuation application serves as a strategic tool in the patent prosecution process, facilitating further development of the patent application without being tied to the potential limitations of the original application's claims.