Appeal No. 97-0048
Application No. 08/292,186
a. a playback unit at the place where the user stores
medication, said playback unit including a loud speaker and
circuitry for producing speech sounds identifying contents within
a medication container in response to placing the medication
container in operative association with the playback unit;
b. said medication container having a memory unit with
external electrical contacts adapted for operative engagement
with the circuitry of said playback unit; and
c. a programming unit at a pharmacy station having
electrical terminals adapted for operative engagement with
the terminals on said medication container for transferring at
least medication identification and other related information
into the memory unit of said container.
The examiner relies on the following references:
Schollmeyer et al. 4,504,153 Mar. 12, 1985
(Schollmeyer)
Hafner 5,181,189 Jan. 19, 1993
Moore 5,291,191 Mar. 1, 1994
Sibalis 5,358,483 Oct. 25, 1994
(filed Sep. 23, 1992)
Damark Product Catalog (Damark)2, “Electronics Direct,” pages 16,
20-21, and 25, 1994.
Claims 1 through 10 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. ' 103.
As evidence of obviousness, the examiner cites Schollmeyer,
Hafner, Moore and “what was well known in the art as evidenced by
the Damark Product Catalog,” with regard to claims 1 through 3, 5
2 The Damark reference was introduced for the first time in the
answer in response to appellant’s challenge to the examiner to
produce a reference showing that playback systems were “well
known in the art,” as alleged by the examiner.
2
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