Ex parte HOLLINGSWORTH et al. - Page 5




          Appeal No. 96-2862                                                          
          Application No. 08/030,704                                                  


               Hutchison is devoid of Appellants’ claimed “second                     
               portion” which is passable through the hole in the                     
               perfboard.  There is no indication that the split                      
               project of Hutchison passes through the board.                         
                                                                                     
               Schuplin shows and describes a separate fastener which                 
               is not intended to be, or suggested to be, integrally                  
               formed with any other member.  In the claimed                          
               invention, the second portion is “integrally formed                    
               with said base member and said first portion”. [Page                   
               9.]                                                                    
          These contentions are not persuasive.                                       
               As to appellants’ contention that there is no indication               
          that the split projection of Hutchison passes through the                   
          pegboard, Hutchison is a design patent and, hence, obviously has            
          no written description.  However, it is well settled that in                
          evaluating references it is proper to take into account not only            
          the specific teachings of the references but also the inferences            
          which one skilled in the art would reasonably be expected to draw           
          therefrom.  In re Preda, 401 F.2d 825, 826, 159 USPQ 342, 344               
          (CCPA 1968).  Moreover, artisans must be presumed to know                   
          something about the art apart from what the references disclose             
          (In re Jacoby, 309 F.2d 513, 516, 135 USPQ 317, 319 (CCPA 1962))            
          and the conclusion of obviousness may be made from "common                  
          knowledge and common sense" of the person of ordinary skill in              
          the art (In re Bozek, 416 F.2d 1385, 1390, 163 USPQ 545, 549                
          (CCPA 1969)).  Viewing Fig. 2 of Hutchison, we are of the opinion           

                                          5                                           





Page:  Previous  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  Next 

Last modified: November 3, 2007