Appeal No. 1999-0545 Page 5
Application No. 08/606,068
invention was made. See Merck & Co. v. Biotech Labs., Inc. 874 F.2d 804, 807, 10
USPQ2d 1843, 1846 (Fed. Cir. 1989), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 975 (1989) and In re Keller,
642 F.2d 413, 425, 208 USPQ 871, 881 (CCPA 1981). While there must be some
suggestion or motivation for one of ordinary skill in the art to combine the teachings of
references, it is not necessary that such be found within the four corners of the references
themselves; 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). Further, in an obviousness assessment, skill is presumed on the
part of the artisan, rather than the lack thereof. In re Sovish, 769 F.2d 738, 743, 226
USPQ 771, 774 (Fed. Cir. 1985). Insofar as the references themselves are concerned, we
are bound to consider the disclosure of each for what it fairly teaches one of ordinary skill
in the art, including not only the specific teachings, but also the inferences which one of
ordinary skill in the art would reasonably have been expected to draw therefrom. See In re
Boe, 355 F.2d 961, 965, 148 USPQ 507, 510 (CCPA 1966) and In re Preda, 401 F.2d
825, 826, 159 USPQ 342, 344 (CCPA 1968).
As best shown in Figure 2, Wood discloses an apparatus for continuously casting
molten metal by means of first and second endless orbiting belts having common first
lengths and facing front surfaces that define a casting region. The apparatus further
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