Appeal No. 1999-2444
Application 08/842,088
supporting member recited in claim 16. Tsunoda’s oil
drainage holes solve a problem specifically associated with
crankshaft bearing components extending from a cylinder
block. Neither of the applied references indicates that
such a problem exists with respect to crankshaft bearing
components extending from a crankcase cover. It is
therefore apparent that the only suggestion for providing
oil drainage holes or passages through the crankshaft
bearing components extending from Fukuoka’s (or Tsunoda’s)
crankcase cover, i.e., through a second crankshaft
supporting member as recited in claim 16, stems from
hindsight knowledge impermissibly derived from the
appellants’ own disclosure.
Accordingly, we shall not sustain the standing 35
U.S.C. § 103(a) rejection of claim 16, or of claims 17 and
20 which depend therefrom, as being unpatentable over
Fukuoka in view of Tsunoda.
SUMMARY
The decision of the examiner to reject claims 16, 17
and 20 is reversed.
REVERSED
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