Appeal No. 98-0409
Application 08/420,480
limitation "integral," it is well settled that “‘integral’ is
sufficiently broad to embrace constructions united by such
means as fastening and welding,”
In re Hotte, 475 F.2d 644, 647, 177 USPQ 326, 329 (CCPA 1973).
See also Advanced Cardiovascular Sys., Inc. v. Scimed Life
Sys., Inc., 887 F.2d 1070, 1072, 12 USPQ2d 1539, 1541 (Fed.
Cir. 1989). Thus, the clasps or slides P of Goss, and the
portion of the belt A to which they are fastened together by
rivets (see Fig. 3), can be considered to be "integral" as
claimed.
The appellants also "take issue with [the] Examiner's
official notice that plastic material may be used in place of
leather and metal" (brief, page 6). We must point out,
however, that artisans must be presumed to know something
about the art apart from what the references disclose (see In
re Jacoby,
309 F.2d 513, 516, 135 USPQ 317, 319 (CCPA 1962)) and the
conclusion of obviousness may be made from "common knowledge
and common sense" of the person of ordinary skill in the art
(see
6
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