Appeal No. 2001-0305 Page 6
Application No. 09/077,356
the field of the inventor's endeavor and, if not, whether it
is reasonably pertinent to the problem with which the inventor
was involved. In re Wood, 599 F.2d 1032, 1036, 202 USPQ 171,
174 (CCPA 1979). A reference is reasonably pertinent if, even
though it may be in a different field of endeavor, it
logically would have commended itself to an inventor's
attention in considering his problem because of the matter
with which it deals. In re Clay, 966 F.2d 656, 659, 23 USPQ2d
1058, 1061 (Fed. Cir. 1992). As explained on page 2 of
appellant's specification, one of the problems with which
appellant was involved was providing a simple and secure
connection of the valve closing element and the connecting
part, such that the possibility of detachment during the axial
movement of the valve needle is completely ruled out.
Likewise, the Soviet patent is directed to a non-detachable
coupling of male and female parts which is simple to
manufacture (translation, p. 4) and, thus, would have
commended itself to an artisan faced with the problem
addressed by appellant. Thus, we conclude that the Soviet
patent is analogous art in the context of appellant's
invention.
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