Ex Parte ALSMEIER et al - Page 3



          Appeal No. 2000-1590                                                         
          Application 09/130,226                                                       

          OPINION                                                                      
          We have carefully considered the subject matter on                           
          appeal, the rejection advanced by the examiner and the evidence              
          of obviousness relied upon by the examiner as support for the                
          rejection.  We have, likewise, reviewed and taken into                       
          consideration, in reaching our decision, the appellants’                     
          arguments set forth in the brief along with the examiner’s                   
          rationale in support of the rejection and arguments in rebuttal              
          set forth in the examiner’s answer.                                          
          It is our view, after consideration of the record before                     
          us, that the evidence relied upon and the level of skill in the              
          particular art would not have suggested to one of ordinary skill             
          in the art the obviousness of the invention as set forth in                  
          claims 1-10.  Accordingly, we reverse.                                       
          In rejecting claims under 35 U.S.C. § 103, it is                             
          incumbent upon the examiner to establish a factual basis to                  
          support the legal conclusion of obviousness.  See In re Fine, 837            
          F.2d 1071, 1073, 5 USPQ2d 1596, 1598 (Fed. Cir. 1988).  In so                
          doing, the examiner is expected to make the factual                          
          determinations set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1,            
          17, 148 USPQ 459, 467 (1966), and to provide a reason why one                
          having ordinary skill in the pertinent art would have been led to            
                                           3                                           




Page:  Previous  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  Next 

Last modified: November 3, 2007