Appeal No. 1997-1109
Application No. 08/250,223
According to the examiner (Answer, page 7), Colson does
not disclose a plurality of item switches spaced apart from
some of the shelves. Kimbrow discloses (column 1, lines 55-68
and column 2, lines 1-40) a plurality of item switches located
in close proximity and corresponding to at least some of the
storage locations, wherein each item switch is positioned so
that it can be visually correlated with items in the
corresponding storage location before an item is removed, and
wherein the item switches are connected to the controller so
that the actuation of the item switches produces a record of
items removed from or placed into the dispensing unit. The
examiner is of the opinion (Answer, page 7) that it would have
been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time
of the invention Ąto employ the 'touch' system of Kimbrow with
the medical dispensing cabinet of Colson because this allows
for easy accountability of products.˘ We agree.
Appellant argues (Brief, page 9) that Kimbrow Ądoes not
teach inclusion of a controller on the dispensing unit
enclosure and interlocking of the controller to a door also on
the enclosure.˘ As indicated supra, the examiner addressed
the obviousness of placing the controller on the dispenser
unit based upon the teachings and suggestions of Colson alone.
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