Appeal No. 1999-0218
Application 08/691,889
shown in Figure 5, ring 10 of bezel 9 includes indications 21
and 22 which represent intervals of fifteen minutes and five
minutes, respectively (col. 2, ll. 30-33). The time is set by
rotating the watch case (Fig. 4) relative to ring 10 of the
bezel (Fig. 2) (col. 2, ll. 34-39). Beguin states that
"[b]etween the five minutes indications 22 the hand 7 can
easily be positioned with sufficient accuracy to indicate the
minute" (col. 2, ll. 39-41). Disc 11 (Fig. 1) of the bezel
carries the hour numbers and is rotatable by the user relative
to ring 10, which has three windows 17-19 through which the
selected hour numbers can be viewed (col. 2, 11. 48-53). The
user can rotate the disc 11 once every three hours to make the
correct hour numbers appear in these windows (col. 2, ll. 57-
61). Beguin does not disclose means for audibly
indicating the time.
Regarding element A of claim 1, i.e., a "timepiece face
without a minute indicator," the examiner contends that the
"[t]he reference does not have a minute indicator or an hour
indicator but rather a minute and hour indicator" (Final Rej.
at 2). Appellant counters that hand 7 is a minute indicator
because it "can be positioned with sufficient accuracy to
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