Appeal No. 1997-0074
Application No. 08/123,092
attaching a handle frame to the substrate so that it
spans the handle hole,
draping a sheet of stretchable material over the
substrate and the handle frame so that it covers the
handle hole, and
forming the stretchable sheet against the top of the
structural substrate and at least partially around
the handle frame by differential pressure applied to
the draped sheet.
The examiner combines the teachings of four references in
order to meet the terms of the claim. The primary reference
is Ashtiani-Zarandi, which is cited for its disclosure of an
inner door panel having an integral handle and arm rest that
are covered with a decorative material. Wilfert is relied
upon for showing a handle that is completely encased in a
cover. The examiner has not explained how these two
references are to be combined, but acknowledges that they fail
to describe the techniques used to apply the decorative
coverings to the handles. He also states that they "appear to
teach covering the handles in a separate step and subsequently
attaching them to the inner door panel" (Answer, page 5)
which, of course, is contrary to the appellants' claimed
method. The examiner then looks to Mills, stating that this
reference "teaches that it is desirable to cover the panel
5
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