Ex parte YAP - Page 10




          Appeal No. 97-2725                                                          
          Application 08/138,456                                                      


          primary mass and having a top wall. Appellant also does not                 
          take issue with the examiner’s implicit findings that the  top              
          surface of the block-shaped sign is defined by the top                      
          surfaces of the primary mass and the indicator means in the                 
          position shown in Figure 2 of the patent drawings. Instead,                 
          the only reference to claim 22 in the argument section                      
          concerning the § 103 rejections is found on page 20 of the                  
          brief where the only argument regarding claim 22 itself, as                 
          distinguished from claim 1 (which, as noted supra, is of                    
          distinctly different scope), is that the content identifier                 
          “is mounted adjacent to the inlet conduit cover and that it                 
          supports vehicular traffic and is wear resistant.” These                    
          arguments are without merit.                                                
               In the first place, claim 22 merely recites that the                   
          primary mass is “attachable” adjacent to the inlet cover. It                
          does not, however, recite that the identifier “is mounted                   
          adjacent to the inlet conduit cover” as argued by appellant.                
          Claim 22 also does not recite that the identifier is “wear                  
          resistant.” Since these features have not been claimed in                   
          claim 22, they may not be relied upon to support patentability              
          of that claim. See In re Self, 671 f.2d 1344, 1348, 231 USPQ                


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