Appeal No. 1998-0889
Application 08/006,585
supra, As previously noted, since Otsuka prints directly on the
plastic card, the card must have a "prepared writing surface," as
broadly claimed. Claim 3 recites a "permanent water resistant ink"
and claim 8 recites "permanent ink." The oil-based ink in Otsuka is
considered to meet these limitations. In addition, however, it would
have been within the level of skill of one of ordinary skill in the
art to select the ink for its intended purpose and one of ordinary
skill would have been motivated to use a permanent water resistant
ink on a card that will be handled frequently so that the card is
more durable and does not have to replaced. A conclusion of
obviousness may be made from common knowledge and common sense of the
person of ordinary skill in the art without any specific hint or
suggestion in a particular reference. See In re Bozek,
416 F.2d 1385, 1390, 163 USPQ 545, 549 (CCPA 1969). Claim 3 recites
"means for entering a unique card number" and claim 8 recites "means
for entry of card specific data." These limitations do not require
that the card number or data be part of the card, as manufactured;
compare claim 1, which recites "pre-manufactured plastic cards have a
unique card identification affixed to each card." The unique card
number and card specific data can refer to the ID number in
Hakamatsuka and Otsuka which is printed on the card. For these
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