Appeal No. 1999-1504 Page 2
Application No. 08/787,262
BACKGROUND
The appellant's invention relates to a fastener for attaching a fishing reel to a fishing
rod. The fastener includes a bulge extending radially outward away from the longitudinal axis
of the fishing rod as well as a constriction located between the bulge and a tip end of the fishing
rod. According to appellant, the bulge increases the stability while grasping the fastener
whereas the constriction is adapted to receive an angler's finger for precisely controlling minute
movements of the fishing rod (specification, page 2). A copy of the claims on appeal appears
in the appendix to the appellant's brief.
The prior art references of record relied upon by the examiner in rejecting the appealed
claims are:
Ozeki et al. (Ozeki) 4,848,022 Jul. 18, 1989
Oyama 5,115,591 May 26, 1992
The following rejections are before us for review.1
1. Claims 11, 12, 14 and 25 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as being anticipated
by Ozeki.
2. Claims 11-15, 25 and 26 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as being anticipated
by Oyama.
3. Claims 18-22 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Oyama.
The rejection under the judicially created doctrine of double patenting has apparently been withdrawn in1
view of the filing of a supplemental terminal disclaimer on July 21, 1998 (Paper No. 10).
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