Ex Parte HALL et al - Page 5



          Appeal No. 2003-2092                                                        
          Application 09/046,285                                                      

          and Examiner for reason stated infra, we reverse the Examiner’s             
          rejection of claims 1 through 3, 5 through 8 and 10 through 14              
          under 35 U.S.C. § 103.                                                      
               In rejecting claims under 35 U.S.C. § 103, the Examiner                
          bears the initial burden of establishing a prima facie case of              
          obviousness.  In re Oetiker, 977 F.2d 1443, 1445, 24 USPQ2d 1443,           
          1444 (Fed. Cir. 1992).  See also In re Piasecki, 745 F.2d 1468,             
          1472, 223 USPQ 785, 788 (Fed. Cir. 1984).  The Examiner can                 
          satisfy this burden by showing that some objective teaching in              
          the prior art or knowledge generally available to one of ordinary           
          skill in the art suggests the claimed subject matter.                       
          In re Fine, 837 F.2d 1071, 1074, 5 USPQ2d 1596, 1598 (Fed. Cir.             
          1988).  Only if this initial burden is met does the burden of               
          coming forward with evidence or argument shift to the Appellants.           
          Oetiker, 977 F.2d at 1445, 24 USPQ2d at 1444.  See also Piasecki,           
          745 F.2d at 1472, 223 USPQ at 788.                                          
               An obviousness analysis commences with a review and                    
          consideration of all the pertinent evidence and arguments.  “In             
          reviewing the [E]xaminer’s decision on appeal, the Board must               
          necessarily weigh all of the evidence and argument.”  Oetiker,              
          977 F.2d at 1445, 24 USPQ2d at 1444.  “[T]he Board must not only            
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