Appeal No. 2000-1335
Application 09/131,930
. having spaced apertures receiving the tubes [presumably
radial tubes 22, 23] for the purpose of increasing surface
area and heat exchange as recognized by Obosu et al” (answer,
page 4).
Although Obosu certainly teaches the advantages of
utilizing fins in conjunction with heat exchange tubes to
increase heat exchange efficiency, the heat exchanger
disclosed by Obosu differs markedly in overall shape and tube
arrangement from that disclosed by Nomura. Given the
disparate natures of the two heat exchangers, it is not
apparent how or why Obosu’s planar tube and fin arrangement
would have suggested providing Nomura’s radially
configured flowpassage 10 with the annularly oriented fin
assembly specified in claim 1. We are therefore constrained
to conclude that the only suggestion for such a result stems
from impermissible hindsight knowledge derived from the
appellant’s own disclosure.
Thus, the combined teachings of Nomura and Obosu fail to
establish a prima facie case of obviousness with respect to
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