Appeal No. 96-3833
ApplicationApplication 08/014,320
utilizing a self-regulating PTC type heating element to heat the
wiper blade. See column 1, lines 35-39 and lines 45-54 of the
Waseleski specification. As such, Waseleski reinforces our
earlier determination that it would have obvious to substitute a
PTC strip heating element for VanSickle’s thermostatically
controlled strip heating element to eliminate the need for a
separate thermostatic control.
In view of the foregoing, we are satisfied that the combined
teachings of VanSickle, Bronnvall and Waseleski would have
suggested the subject matter of claims 32, 33, 35 through 37 and
37 to one of ordinary skill in the art to warrant a conclusion of
obviousness under the test set forth in In re Keller, 642 F.2d at
425, 208 USPQ at 881.
With regard to claim 34, appellant has not disputed the
examiner’s finding that Bronnvall’s PTC strip heating element is
flexible. In any event, Horsma teaches the concept of making a
PTC strip heating element flexible so that the heating element is
capable of conforming to the contour of the structure to be
heated (see the paragraph bridging columns 3 and 4 of the Horsma
specification). For these reasons it would have been obvious to
make the PTC heating element flexible. Horsma is also pertinent
for its teaching that PTC heating elements are self-regulating to
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