Appeal No. 1999-1835
Application No. 08/654,976
facie obvious to provide a sipe having only one end open to a
side surface of the circumferential groove in JP '108 as
expressly suggested in JP '108. That is, when the sipe of JP
'108 has only one end open to a side surface of a
circumferential groove, the sipe would be "at a substantially
uniform depth that extends from a lateral edge of the block-
shaped island portion and ends prior to reaching the opposite
lateral edge of the block-shaped island portion" as recited in
appealed claim 13. Although JP '108 does not describe the tire
manufacturing process, the appealed claims are directed to a
tire and not a process. In re Thorpe, 777 F.2d 695, 697, 227
USPQ 964, 966 (Fed. Cir. 1985).
We need not discuss JP '712 and Yamaguchi because they are
cumulative to JP '108.
The appellants argue that the invention recited in appealed
claim 13 prevents a blade of a mold from bending during
vulcanizing molding and provides a tire having good on-ice
performance. (Appeal brief, page 29.) Also, it is said that
the invention "enhances both wear resistance against partial
wear and dry driving stability." However, the appellants have
not specifically pointed to any objective evidence, which is
commensurate in scope with the claims and which is sufficient to
16
Page: Previous 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007