Appeal 2007-0605
Application 10/231,771
1 11. Hydraulic fluid passing to first chamber 38 will be communicated to
2 the forward side of piston 41 through control line 30. This pressure
3 tends to retract tapered pin 40 from central opening 37. (col. 4, ll.
4 36-40).
5 12. An increase in pressure will be immediately communicated through
6 control line 30 to third chamber 43 and thus cause the tapered pin 40
7 to retract slightly, which will increase the effective size of opening 37.
8 (col. 4, ll. 51-55).
9 13. Compton discloses an unloading solenoid valve 10, as illustrated in
10 figures 1 and 2. (Col. 1, ll. 46-50).
11 14. Compton discloses that upon energizing the solenoid, a venting
12 aperture is closed and pressure building up in the chamber urges the
13 spool valve to an open position in an extremely rapid fashion. (col. 1,
14 ll. 36-39).
15
16 PRINCIPLES OF LAW
17 To determine whether a prima facie case of obviousness has been
18 established, we are guided by the factors set forth in Graham v. John Deere
19 Co., 383 U.S. 1, 17, 148 USPQ 459, 467 (1966), viz., (1) the scope and
20 content of the prior art; (2) the differences between the prior art and the
21 claims at issue; and (3) the level of ordinary skill in the art.
22 In addition to our review of the Graham factors, we also consider
23 whether a person of ordinary skill in the art, possessed with the
24 understandings and knowledge reflected in the prior art, and motivated by
25 the general problem facing the inventor, would have been led to make the
26 combination recited in the claims. In re Kahn, 441 F.3d 977, 988, 78
7
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Last modified: September 9, 2013