Ex parte MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION - Page 15




          Appeal No. 98-2735                                                          
          Application No. 90004386                                                    


          or both unbranched launders, (depending on the desired number               
          (increased number) of blister copper refining furnaces to be                
          used) in the same manner the unbranched launders are employed               
          in Smith or Hoffmann.  By using or operating branched launders              
          in the same manner as those unbranched launders described in                
          Smith or Hoffmann, one of ordinary skill in the art would have              
          had a reasonable expectation of successfully reducing the cost              
          associated with the number of lengthy launders needed for a                 
          given plurality of blister copper furnaces and the number of                
          holes needed in a blister copper producing furnace for a given              
          number of launders employed, as well as reducing the potential              
          leakage associated with the increased number of holes present               
          in a blister copper producing furnace.  See In re Thompson,                 
          545 F.2d 1290, 1294, 192 USPQ 275 (CCPA 1976); In re Clinton,               
          527 F.2d 1226, 1228, 188 USPQ 365, 367 (CCPA 1976).  We find                
          that one of ordinary skill in the art has "common knowledge                 
          and common sense” to recognize the cost saving and potential                
          problem avoidance associated with employing branched launders               
          as indicated supra.                                                         




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