Appeal No. 1997-1336
Application 08/267,433
connection between the fuse element and cathode terminal of
Yamane occur at the edge of the resin package as suggested by
the Bougger electrical connection. The artisan would have
recognized the obviousness of connecting the fuse element 31
and the cathode terminal 23 of Yamane at any point along
terminal 23, including the point where the edge of package 51
contacts terminal 23.
Appellant’s arguments seem to suggest that the claimed
fuse wire should be considered as different from other
electronic components. We are not persuaded by appellant’s
bare assertion that teachings which might apply to other
electronic components would not apply to a fuse wire as
claimed. There is nothing in this record to suggest that an
apparent obvious movement of the connection point between a
fuse element and a cathode terminal would not equally apply to
a fuse wire. Appellant is not precluded from presenting
additional evidence or arguments which might provide secondary
indicia of the nonobviousness of the claimed subject matter.
Our decision simply confirms that, on the record before us,
the invention as broadly recited in claim 1 would have been
9
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007