Appeal No. 97-3661
Application No. 08/456,692
there must be some suggestion or motivation for one of ordinary
skill in the art to combine the teachings of the references, it
is not necessary that such be found within the four corners of
the references themselves; a conclusion of obviousness may be
made from common knowledge and common sense of the person of
ordinary skill in the art without any specific hint or suggestion
in a particular reference. See In re Bozek, 416 F.2d 1385, 1390,
163 USPQ 545, 549 (CCPA 1969). Further, in an obviousness
assessment, skill is presumed on the part of the artisan, rather
than the lack thereof. In re Sovish, 769 F.2d 738, 742, 226 USPQ
771, 774 (Fed. Cir. 1985). Insofar as the references themselves
are concerned, we are bound to consider the disclosure of each
for what it fairly teaches one of ordinary skill in the art,
including not only the specific teachings, but also the
inferences which one of ordinary skill in the art would
reasonably have been expected to draw therefrom. See In re Boe,
355 F.2d 961, 965, 148 USPQ 507, 510 (CCPA 1966); and In re
Preda, 401 F.2d 825, 826, 159 USPQ 342, 344 (CCPA 1968).
As we stated above in our discussion of the Section 102
rejection of these claims, all of the elements of the funnel
recited in the claims are disclosed by Melvin in the relationship
set forth in the claims, and Melvin also discloses the separated
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