Appeal No. 1996-4111
Application No. 08/311,902
coating of the type described in Davidson, we agree
with the examiner that it would have been prima facie
obvious to employ such coating, in lieu of a plastic
sheath, to all the surfaces of conventional battery
terminal connectors, except for regions of anticipated
direct electrical contacts, i.e., a battery post
contact area and a battery cable contact area, with a
reasonable expectation of successfully minimizing or
preventing corrosion.
Having determined that the prima facie case of obviousness
is established, we look to a Rule 132 declaration executed by
Richard R. Randles on January 4, 1995 (hereinafter referred to as
“the Randles declaration”). See, e.g., In re Piasecki, 745 F.2d
1468, 1472, 223 USPQ 785, 788 (Fed. Cir. 1984). According to
appellant (Brief, pages 5-7), the Randles declaration
demonstrates commercial success, long-felt need and failure of
others, and copying.
With respect to commercial success, appellant must provide
sufficient proof to establish (1) that the claimed battery
terminal connectors are commercially successful and (2) that such
a success is directly resulted from the unique characteristics
(merits) of the claimed battery terminal connectors. In re
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