Appeal No. 2000-0486
Application No. 08/853,651
claim 23.
Fenton discloses a composite golf club shaft having a
length between 41.5 to 43 inches (Figs. 6 and 10), a weight
between 77 to 85 grams (col. 6, l. 42) and a tip portion outer
diameter between .40 to .44 inches (col. 3, ll. 56-57). The
examiner acknowledges that Fenton does not teach or suggest a
golf club shaft having a length between 33 to 40 inches, a tip
portion
inner diameter greater than or equal to 0.15 inches or a tip
portion wall thickness between 0.04 and 0.125 inches as called
for in claim 23. See answer, p. 8.
To overcome the above-noted deficiencies of Fenton, the
examiner relies upon the teachings of Teramoto and Hogan.
Teramoto teaches a set of irons having a club length between
35 and 40 inches. See embodiment #1, col. 4, ll. 39-50.
Hogan is directed to a golf club shaft having a central shaft
portion of greater flexibility than both the butt and tip
facie case of obviousness is established where the reference teachings would
appear to be sufficient for one of ordinary skill in the art having those
teachings before him to make the proposed combination or modification. See In
re Lintner, 458 F.2d 1013, 1016, 173 USPQ 560, 562 (CCPA 1972).
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