Ex parte KONIG et al. - Page 11




          also mean that numerous blocking agents other than those with               
          a 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidinyl group likewise are not                    
          described.  It was not until Gras was cited that applicants                 
          seem to have arrived at the "subgenus" now claimed, i.e.,                   
          isocyanates blocked with any blocking agent other than one                  
          having a 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidinyl group.  The appeal                 
          does not involve a case where an applicant describes and                    
          originally claims a plurality of species, some of which turn                
          out to be in the prior art.  An amendment to eliminate the                  
          species within the prior art may be appropriate.  Compare In                
          re Johnson, 558 F.2d 1008, 194 USPQ 187 (CCPA 1977).  Each                  
          species may be regarded as a different invention and                        
          cancellation of one invention from a claim does not mean that               
          the remaining inventions claimed are not described.  Thus, if               
          applicants elected to cancel one member of the Markush group                
          of claim 4, we doubt it could be argued that the specification              
          did not describe the remaining members of the Markush group.                

               C.   Decision                                                          
               The examiner's rejection of claims 1-5 over Cook or Konig              
          in view of Uhrhan is reversed.                                              
               The examiner's rejection of claims 1-4 as failing to                   
          comply with the description requirement of the first paragraph              


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