Appeal No. 2000-0511
Application No. 08/758,343
1001, 1010 (Fed. Cir. 1991). It is not necessary that the reference teach what the subject
application teaches, but only that the claim read on something disclosed in the reference, i.e.,
that all of the limitations in the claim be found in or fully met by the reference. Kalman v.
Kimberly Clark Corp., 713 F.2d 760, 772, 218 USPQ 781, 789 (Fed. Cir. 1983), cert.
denied, 465 U.S. 1026 (1984).
Blue discloses a can holder or implement 10. As explained in column 4, lines 1-60, the
gripping assembly 16 of Blue's implement 10 is movable between a retracted position providing
maximum clearance between the assembly 16 and the other gripping assembly 15 and an
extended position closer to the assembly 15, by means of an actuating member 14, to thereby
engage and grip an appropriately-sized can received between the gripping assemblies 15, 16.
However, as pointed out in column 4, lines 61-64, the degree of movement of the gripping
assembly 16 toward the gripping assembly 15 will be limited by the length of the slots 31,
which of course limits the range of can diameters that can be gripped between the assemblies
15, 16. In order to extend the range of can diameters that can be accommodated, a second
gripping element 34 is pivotably connected to the gripping assembly 16 by means of a hinged
connection 37. In order to grip a can, the second gripping element 34 having an arcuate body
35 is moved to its operative position shown in Figure 1 and the implement 10 is moved
downward over the can. A can of relatively small diameter is gripped between the second
gripping element 34 and the gripping assembly 15 by depressing the actuating member 14 to
4
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