Appeal No. 98-2735
Application No. 90004386
or both unbranched launders, (depending on the desired number
(increased number) of blister copper refining furnaces to be
used) in the same manner the unbranched launders are employed
in Smith or Hoffmann. By using or operating branched launders
in the same manner as those unbranched launders described in
Smith or Hoffmann, one of ordinary skill in the art would have
had a reasonable expectation of successfully reducing the cost
associated with the number of lengthy launders needed for a
given plurality of blister copper furnaces and the number of
holes needed in a blister copper producing furnace for a given
number of launders employed, as well as reducing the potential
leakage associated with the increased number of holes present
in a blister copper producing furnace. See In re Thompson,
545 F.2d 1290, 1294, 192 USPQ 275 (CCPA 1976); In re Clinton,
527 F.2d 1226, 1228, 188 USPQ 365, 367 (CCPA 1976). We find
that one of ordinary skill in the art has "common knowledge
and common sense” to recognize the cost saving and potential
problem avoidance associated with employing branched launders
as indicated supra.
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