Ex parte BATES et al. - Page 5




          Appeal No. 1998-1388                                       Page 5           
          Application No. 08/357,678                                                  


                                       OPINION                                        
               In reaching our decision in this appeal, we considered                 
          the  subject matter on appeal and the rejections advanced by                
          the examiner.  Furthermore, we duly considered the arguments                
          and evidence of the appellants and examiner.  After                         
          considering the totality of the record, we are persuaded that               
          the examiner erred in rejecting claims 1, 2, 4-8, and 10-22.                


               We begin by noting the following principles from Rowe v.               
          Dror, 112 F.3d 473, 478, 42 USPQ2d 1550, 1553 (Fed. Cir.                    
          1997).                                                                      
               A prior art reference anticipates a claim only if                      
               the reference discloses, either expressly or                           
               inherently, every limitation of the claim.  See                        
               Verdegaal Bros., Inc. v. Union Oil Co., 814 F.2d                       
               628, 631, 2 USPQ2d 1051, 1053 (Fed. Cir. 1987).                        
               "[A]bsence from the reference of any claimed element                   
               negates anticipation."  Kloster Speedsteel AB v.                       
               Crucible, Inc., 793 F.2d 1565, 1571, 230 USPQ 81, 84                   
               (Fed. Cir. 1986)).                                                     
          We also note the following principles from In re Rijckaert,                 
          9 F.3d 1531, 1532, 28 USPQ2d 1955, 1956 (Fed. Cir. 1993).                   
               In rejecting claims under 35 U.S.C. § 103, the                         
               examiner bears the initial burden of presenting a                      
               prima facie case of obviousness.  In re Oetiker, 977                   
               F.2d 1443, 1445, 24 USPQ2d 1443, 1444 (Fed. Cir.                       
               1992)....  "A prima facie case of obviousness is                       







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