Appeal No. 98-2124 Page 8
Application No. 08/454,898
"has an end [i.e., the end 88 of each of the arms or beam
portions 82,94] opposite the resilient end that is stiff"
(emphasis added), but we must point out that Biechler does not
say that the arms 82,94 (which form Biechler's beam portions)
are stiff. Moreover, Biechler expressly states that the spring
contact arms 75,91 (col. 5, lines 36 and 37) of the contact
members 74,90 "are resilient elements" (col. 5, lines 48 and
49; emphasis added). Inasmuch as the contact members 74,90 (1)
are made of the same material throughout their length and (2)
the spring contact arms 75,91 (see Fig. 3) are resilient, it
follows that both the arms or beam portions 82,94, as a whole
(including their end portions or solder tails 88), must
likewise be resilient. It does not follow, however, that just
because Biechler refers to the end portions or solder tails 88
as being "stiff," that (1) the arms or beam portions 82,94 are
likewise stiff or (2) the end portions or solder tails 88 and
the arms or beam portions 82,94 do not have the capability of
exerting a spring force as claimed. Not only does the fact
that the end portions or solder tails 88 of Biechler are
described as being "stiff" not preclude them from being capable
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