Ex parte HARVEY - Page 4




          Appeal No. 2000-0759                                                        
          Application No. 08/772,198                                                  


          1984) ("In determining whether a case of prima facie                        
          obviousness exists, it is necessary to ascertain whether the                
          prior art teachings would appear to be sufficient to one of                 
          ordinary skill in the art to suggest making the claimed                     
          substitution or other modification").                                       


          Looking at the Bailey patent, it is apparent that it                        
          discloses a connector (13), clip (29, 31) and panel (11)                    
          assembly akin to that disclosed by appellant.  However, a                   
          close review of the disclosure of the Bailey patent regarding               
          the construction and operation of the clip member(s) reveals                
          that the clip in Bailey is both structurally and functionally               
          different than that set forth in appellant's claims on appeal.              
          More specifically, in contrast to appellant's claimed subject               
          matter in independent claims 8 and 11 on appeal, it is clear                
          to us that the clip in Bailey has no first tab                              
               having a first portion that extends away from the                      
               coupler and toward the back side of the panel to an                    
               apex, the apex spaced in the longitudinal direction                    
               from the back side of the panel and laterally                          
               outward of the edge surface of the aperture, the                       
               first tab having a second portion that extends from                    
               the apex toward the coupler and toward the back side                   
               of the panel and terminating at the first tab end,                     

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