Appeal No. 97-4183
Application 08/424,128
Initially we note that all of the disclosures in a reference
must be evaluated for what they fairly teach one having
ordinary skill in the art (In re Boe, 355 F.2d 961, 965, 148
USPQ 507, 510 (CCPA 1966)) and, in evaluating such a referenc-
e, 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 there-
from (In re Preda, 401 F.2d 825, 826, 159 USPQ 342, 344 (CCPA
1968)). Moreover, the issue of obviousness is not only
determined by what the references expressly state but also is
determined by what they would fairly suggest to those of
ordinary skill in the art. See, e.g., In re De Lisle, 406
F.2d 1386, 1389, 160 USPQ 806, 808-09 (CCPA 1969) and In re
Bozek, 416 F.2d 1385, 1390, 163 USPQ 545, 549-50 (CCPA 1969).
Miller provides a bit having up to three nozzle systems
(column 2, line 15). Other than the first nozzle system, the
remaining nozzle systems are provided with at least one
frangible member (43 or 86) that is rupturable at a
predetermined upstream pressure. When the nozzles of one
system become eroded, the flow of drilling fluid to the eroded
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