Appeal No. 1999-0400
Application No. 08/316,938
Madsen discloses a V or U-shaped filter tray 3 (a sieve
filter) which functions in conjunction with a filter mat 4 to
remove dirt from a cleaning liquid. The purpose of this filter
tray is far removed from that of the agglomerate-forming sieve
disclosed by Edwards. In short, there is nothing in the
disparate teachings of these references which would have
suggested making Edward’s sieve in the form of a U-shaped
trough as required by claim 27.
Therefore, we shall not sustain the standing 35 U.S.C.
§ 103(a) rejection of claim 27, and claims 25, 26 and 31/27
which depend therefrom, as being unpatentable over Edwards in
view of Madsen.
XI. The 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) rejection of claims 25 through 28
and 31/27 as being unpatentable over Edwards in view of Edmonds
Acknowledging that Edwards does not meet the limitation in
claim 27 requiring the agglomerate-forming sieve to have the
form of a U-shaped trough, the examiner (see page 9 in the
answer) advances Edmonds’ sieve element (enclosure 16 having
fenestrated side walls 18) as a U-shaped trough. As discussed
above, however, the Edmonds sieve element is conical. This
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