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 5Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 NextLast modified: November 3, 2007