Ex Parte REILLY - Page 4



          Appeal No. 2000-0187                                                        
          Application No. 08/430,943                                                  

                                      OPINION                                         
               We have carefully considered the subject matter on appeal,             
          the rejection advanced by the Examiner, the arguments in support            
          of the rejection and the evidence of obviousness relied upon by             
          the Examiner as support for the rejection.  We have, likewise,              
          reviewed and taken into consideration, in reaching our decision,            
          Appellant’s arguments set forth in the Brief along with the                 
          Examiner’s rationale in support of the rejection and arguments in           
          rebuttal set forth in the Examiner’s Answer.                                
               It is our view, after consideration of the record before us,           
          that the evidence relied upon and the level of skill in the                 
          particular art would not have suggested to one of ordinary skill            
          in the art the obviousness of the invention as set forth in                 
          claims 1-21.  Accordingly, we reverse.                                      
               In rejecting claims under 35 U.S.C. § 103, it is                       
          incumbent upon the Examiner to establish a factual basis to                 
          support the legal conclusion of obviousness.  See In re Fine, 837           
          F.2d 1071, 1073, 5 USPQ2d 1596, 1598 (Fed. Cir. 1988).  In so               
          doing, the Examiner is expected to make the factual                         
          determinations set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1,           



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