Appeal No. 97-2881
Application No. 08/387,166
safe includes an outer conductive wall 12, an inner conductive
wall 13, and an insulating layer 14 that separates the two
conductive layers. The barrier for the cable includes an
outer conductor 24, an inner conductor 22, and an insulation
layer 27 that separates the two conductors. A high potential
is impressed between the two conducting surfaces in the safe
and the cable so that any penetration or break in either
insulation layer will result in a corona discharge (column 2,
lines 51 through 56; and column 3, lines 37 through 42). The
corona discharge is detected by an ionization detector which
in turn activates an alarm.
Based upon the teachings of Kraft and Kothe, the examiner
states (Answer, page 6) that:
Hence, it would have been obvious for one skilled in
the art to modify Kraft’s shield with the material
as taught by Kothe, such that the alarm can be
activated not only by the vibration from the shield,
but also by other condition, such as fire and high
temperature (col. 2, lines 7-075 [sic, 70 -75] in
Kothe). It is also obvious to apply Kothe’s shield
in the environment of Kraft by modifying Kothe’s
shield with the structure of Kraft’s shield as the
environment is changed.
With respect to the teachings of Kraft, appellant argues
(Brief, page 7) that “[a] clearer teaching away from the
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