Ex parte CUMMINGS et al. - Page 10




          Appeal No. 96-1415                                                          
          Application No. 08/088,625                                                  


          while claim 43 recites that it is.  As a result of this                     
          inconsistency, claim 45 is indefinite because its scope is not              
          clear.                                                                      
          Conclusion                                                                  
               The examiner’s decision to reject the appealed claims                  
          under 35 U.S.C. § 102(e) and/or § 103 is reversed.  Claims 1                
          to 4, 7, 16, 17, 23 to 25, 33, 41 to 43 and 46 are rejected                 
          pursuant to 37 CFR 1.196(b).                                                
               This decision contains new grounds of rejection pursuant               
          to 37 CFR § 1.196(b)(amended effective Dec. 1, 1997, by final               
          rule notice, 62 Fed. Reg. 53,131, 53,197 (Oct. 10, 1997), 1203              
          Off. Gaz. Pat. & Trademark Office 63, 122 (Oct. 21, 1997)).                 
          37 CFR                                                                      
          § 1.196(b) provides that, “A new ground of rejection shall not              
          be considered final for purposes of judicial review.”                       
               37 CFR § 1.196(b) also provides that the appellants,                   
          WITHIN TWO MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE DECISION, must exercise              
          one of the following two options with respect to the new                    
          grounds of rejection to avoid termination of proceedings                    




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