Ex Parte Nie et al - Page 4

                 Appeal 2007-2191                                                                                        
                 Application 10/284,553                                                                                  

                 1356, 1361, 80 USPQ2d 1641, 1645 (Fed. Cir. 2006)(“The motivation need                                  
                 not be found in the references sought to be combined, but may be found in                               
                 any number of sources, including common knowledge, the prior art as a                                   
                 whole, or the nature of the problem itself.”); In re Bozek, 416 F.2d 1385,                              
                 1390, 163 USPQ 545, 549 (CCPA 1969)(“Having established that this                                       
                 knowledge was in the art, the examiner could then properly rely, as put forth                           
                 by the solicitor, on a conclusion of obviousness ‘from common knowledge                                 
                 and common sense of the person of ordinary skill in the art without any                                 
                 specific hint or suggestion in a particular reference.’”).  Any analysis                                
                 supporting obviousness, however, should be made explicit and should                                     
                 “identify a reason that would have prompted a person of ordinary skill in the                           
                 art to combine [known] elements” in the manner claimed.  KSR, 127 S. Ct. at                             
                 1739, 82 USPQ2d  at 1396.                                                                               
                        Applying the above principles of law, we determine that the prior art                            
                 references relied upon by the Examiner would have suggested the claimed                                 
                 extruded starch-based long-lasting dog chew.  Specifically, we find that                                
                 Dempsey teaches that its initial mouldable dog food (dog chew) ingredients                              
                 include, inter alia, 35-84% by weight of starches (corn, wheat, rice, tapioca                           
                 potato, oat, sugar beet), 0-10% by weight of fat, 0-5% by weight of flavoring                           
                 agents, and 15-20% by weight of water (pp. 2 and 4-6).  We find that                                    
                 Dempsey teaches extruding these ingredients at a temperature between 75°                                
                 C to 125° C “until all the starches have been gelatini[z]ed…” (p. 13).  We                              
                 find that the final dog chew product, according to page 14 of Dempsey,                                  
                 contains, inter alia, 35-84% by weight of gelatinized starches, 0-10% by                                
                 weight of fat, 0-10%  by weight of flavoring agents (including glycol), and                             


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