Appeal No. 97-0991 Application 08/436,660 directly related to each other by the teachings of the reference. In re Arkley, 455 F.2d 586, 587-88, 172 USPQ 524, 526 (CCPA 1972). Since the portions of the Fine disclosure pertaining to the prior art container (Figures 1 and 2) and to the Fine container (Figures 3 through 7) are not directly related to each other by the teachings of the reference, the standing 35 U.S.C. � 102(b) rejection of independent claims 10 and 21, and of claim 29 which depends from claim 10, is not well founded. This rejection is also unsound for additional reasons. More particularly, Fine does not disclose a mug assembly having “a sealing material attached adjacent the upper edge of the internal mug on the outer surface thereof, the sealing material adapted to engage a portion of the inner surface of the external mug” as recited in independent claim 10. The examiner’s determination that the adhesive between the notch C and edge D of the prior art container described by Fine meets this limitation is based on unsupported and unreasonable findings as to the properties and location of the adhesive. The Fine container (Figures 3 through 7) also lacks such a sealing material. -8-Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 NextLast modified: November 3, 2007