Appeal No. 1999-1979
Application No. 08/758,788
hardness, only that if such inserts are used, the putting
characteristics of the golf club can be varied (id. at 7).
Anticipation is established only if each and every
element set forth in the claim is found, either expressly or
inherently described, in a single prior art reference.
Verdegaal Bros. Inc. v. Union Oil Co., 814 F.2d 628, 631, 2
USPQ2d 1051, 1053 (Fed. Cir.), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 827
(1987). The inquiry as to whether a reference anticipates a
claim must focus on what subject matter is encompassed by the
claim and what subject matter is described by the reference.
As set forth by the court in Kalman v. Kimberly-Clark Corp.,
713 F.2d 760, 772, 218 USPQ 781, 789 (Fed. Cir. 1983), cert.
denied, 465 U.S. 1026 (1984), it is only necessary for the
claims to "'read on' something disclosed in the reference,
i.e., all limitations of the claim are found in the reference,
or 'fully met' by it."
Appellant does not argue that polyurethane is not a
resinous plastic material. Rather, appellant argues that
since Fisher discloses a putter in which all of the pads are
constructed from polyurethane, Fisher fails to disclose: (1) a
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