Appeal No. 1997-3024
Application 08/325,476
4 and the distance C between the edge 10 of element 3 and the
edge 11 of plate 7. Shibata states that when the width B and
the distance C correspond to the marks “o” in Table 3 in
column 6, the edges of the coating are straight and of uniform
thickness.
The examiner’s position is that it would have been
obvious to modify Shibata
to use the support guides and nonpressurized support
scraping as taught by [AAPA] . . . since Shibata
teaches a method of coating using width regulation
plates that are accurate and allow for less wear
(column 4, lines 5-30) and [since] . . . [AAPA]
teaches that it is conventional to use support
guides and nonpressurized scraping extrusion heads
when extrusion coating with regulation plates.
[Answer, page 7.]
It is questionable, in our view, that one of ordinary
skill in the art would modify the apparatus and mode of
operation of Shibata in the manner proposed by the examiner in
view of AAPA. In any event, even if the prior art teachings
relied upon by the examiner were combined in the manner
proposed, we do not agree with the examiner’s bottom line
position that the claimed subject matter would necessarily
result. What is missing from the examiner’s evidentiary basis
is a teaching of positioning the nearest point P of the upper
9
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007