Ex parte MEADOWS - Page 9




          Appeal No. 1997-2032                                                        
          Application 08/229,278                                                      


          may not, because he doubts that the invention is patentable,                
          resort to speculation, unfounded assumptions or hindsight                   
          reconstruction to supply deficiencies in the factual basis.                 
          See In re Warner, 379 F.2d 1011, 154 USPQ 173 (CCPA 1967),                  
          cert denied, 389 U.S. 1057 (1968).  As our Court of review                  
          indicated in In re Fritch, 972 F.2d 1260, 23 USPQ2d 1780 (Fed.              
          Cir. 1992), it is impermissible, as the examiner has done                   
          here, to use the claimed invention as an instruction manual or              
          "template" to piece together isolated disclosures and                       
          teachings of the prior art so that the claimed invention may                
          be rendered obvious.  Since we perceive no factual basis in                 
          the prior art relied upon which supports the examiner’s                     
          proposed combinations thereof, and have determined that the                 
          examiner's conclusion of obviousness is based on a hindsight                
          reconstruction of the claimed invention from isolated,                      
          disparate teachings in the prior art and reliance upon                      
          appellant's own disclosure, we will not sustain the examiner's              
          rejection of claims 7, 9 through 11, 13 and 14 on appeal under              
          35 U.S.C.                                                                   
          § 103.                                                                      


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