Appeal No. 1998-2029 Page 14
Application No. 08/258,643
Claim 3 adds to parent claim 1 the further limitation
that the closure means is "an interlocking ridge- and channel-
structure."
Staller discloses a flexible container having
interlocking rib and groove closure elements. Staller teaches
(column 1, lines 15-20) that plastic or plastic-like flexible
containers having reclosable elements offer a plurality of
advantages over other containers.
In applying the above-noted test for obviousness, we
reach the conclusion that it would have been obvious at the
time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill
in the art to have sealed the collection pouch of Idris as
suggested by the teachings of Morris by utilizing interlocking
rib and groove closure elements as taught by Staller.
The appellant argues in addition to the argument set
forth above with respect to claim 1 that there is no
suggestion to combine the applied prior art to arrive at the
claimed invention. We do not agree. In our view, the applied
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