Appeal No. 97-3345
Application 08/332,936
McGugan reveals uniformity for the pipe exterior (Fig. 1) and
in another embodiment (Fig. 8) uniformity for the pipe
interior. This teaching, with the knowledge in the art
(Sweeney and St. Onge) of uniform exteriors and interiors as
suitable for pipe arrangements, would clearly have been
suggestive of the alternative of an operable uniform exterior
and interior pipe arrangement, as proposed for the McGugan
method of pipelaying. Like the examiner, we are also
not in accord with appellant’s view of the Sweeney and St.
Onge documents as being directed to nonanalogous subject
matter (brief, pages 15 and 16). At the outset, we note that,
as acknowledged by appellant (specification, page 2), there is
simply a preference for using steel. This is certainly
consistent with the evidence of obviousness before us which
accurately reflects the alternatives of steel and plastic
material pipes and connections in the art. In our opinion, it
is fair to say that the teachings of Sweeney and St. Onge are
reasonably pertinent to the pipe connection and configuration
problems faced by both appellant and McGugan and, as such,
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