Appeal 2006-3057
Application 10/426,905
1 well as hinge plate 20, which are joined together to form an
2 assembly. (col. 3, ll. 38-40).
3 5. Salmonowicz discloses a vehicle door assembly having an inner
4 panel 12 and an outer panel 26. (col. 2, ll. 17-20).
5 6. The crosshatching of figure 2 of Salmonowicz shows panels 12
6 and 26 to be made of plastic.
7 7. Appellants do not dispute that Salmonowicz discloses plastic door
8 panels for a vehicle.
9
10 PRINCIPLES OF LAW
11 A claim is anticipated only if each and every element as set forth in
12 the claim is found, either expressly or inherently described, in a single prior
13 art reference. Verdegaal Bros. Inc. v. Union Oil Co., 814 F.2d 628, 631, 2
14 USPQ2d 1051, 1053 (Fed. Cir. 1987). The inquiry as to whether a reference
15 anticipates a claim must focus on what subject matter is encompassed by the
16 claim and what subject matter is described by the reference.
17
18 ANALYSIS
19 We turn first to the rejection of claims 1-16 and 31 under 35 U.S.C.
20 § 102(b) as being anticipated by Rashid. From our review of Appellants'
21 Specification, we agree with Appellants (Br. 8) that there is nothing in the
22 Specification that would suggest that a "one-piece panel" was intended to
23 have anything more than its plain and ordinary meaning, and that the
24 Specification distinguishes a one-piece construction from a multiple piece
25 construction. As stated in Sentry Protection products Inc. v. Eagle
4
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