Appeal No. 2000-1489 Page 9
Application No. 09/188,421
of being disassembled and removed from the vehicle doorway,
and thus Vartanian's ramp section 13 is removably pivotally
secured, about the axis of hinge 19, to the base plate.
For the reasons set forth above, we have concluded that
Vartanian teaches all the limitations of claims 1 and 5. A
disclosure that anticipates under 35 U.S.C. § 102 also renders
the claim unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 103, for
"anticipation is the epitome of obviousness." Jones v. Hardy,
727 F.2d 1524, 1529, 220 USPQ 1021, 1025 (Fed. Cir. 1984).
See also In re Fracalossi, 681 F.2d 792, 794, 215 USPQ 569,
571 (CCPA 1982); In re Pearson, 494 F.2d 1399, 1402, 181 USPQ
641, 644 (CCPA 1974). Thus, the decision of the examiner to
reject claims 1 and 5 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 is affirmed.
Claims 2 to 4 and 6 to 8
We will not sustain the rejection of claims 2 to 4 and 6
to 8 under 35 U.S.C. § 103.
The examiner's position (answer, p. 3) with respect to
the rejection of claims 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 is that
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