Appeal No. 98-0003
Application No. 08/601,896
Although not specifically stated, it is clear from a
reading of Karakane’s specification that the above noted disc
holder 7 is intended only for use in storing the disc. That
is, when the disc is to be used in its operational mode in a
player device, it must first be is removed from the disc
holder. Karakane further discloses a case 8 for cooperating
with the disc holder 7. According to Karakane (column 4,
lines 22-24), the disc holder 7 may be received in the case 8
to securely store the disc. Also, the case may be modified to
receive a plurality of holders 7 (column 4, lines 25-31). In
that Karakane’s disc holder 7 and case 8 only house the disc
when it is in the storage mode, Karakane’s disc holder 7 and
case 8 more or less correspond to appellant’s claimed “holder”
(element 3 in appellant’s drawings).
As we understand it, the examiner has taken the position
in rejecting claim 1 that it would have been obvious to one of
ordinary skill in the art to provide the cartridge 2 of
Ouwerkerk with a sliding holder like that disclosed by
Karakane at case 8 “to . . . cover the window portion of the
container [of Ouwerkerk] to prevent the accumulation of dust
7
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