Appeal No. 2000-0356 Page 8
Application No. 08/825,424
Here, the examiner cites Figure 8 of Karam II to show
“ridges extend[ing] over an edge of a support member (61).”
(Final Rejection at 4.) We agree with the appellant, however,
that “there are no permanent ridges in the finished suspension
of Fig. 8.” (Reply Br. at 1.) To the contrary, the ridges 58
shown in the Figure are elastically deformed and leave no
permanent contour in the suspension. Specifically, “[t]he
metal can also be elastically deformed as shown in FIG. 8.
Elastic deformation is effected into the part by external
forces that leave no permanent contour in the material when
the external forces are removed.” Col. 10, ll. 7-10.
The examiner turns to Karam II’s “teach[ing] (Col. 9,
lines 63-66) that ‘the metal can be plastically, or
irreversibly, deformed on a small scale’ (Emphasis added). . .
.’" (Examiner’s Answer at 4.) The cited teaching does not
refer, however, to the embodiment of Figure 8. To the
contrary, it refers to the embodiments of “FIGS. 5, 6, and 7.
. . .” Col. 9, l. 63. Of those Figures, only the embodiment
of Figure 7 is formed by stamping. Specifically, “FIG. 7
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