Appeal No. 2000-0356 Page 14
Application No. 08/825,424
The Examiner finds (final rejection, p. 4): "Karam
teaches a method of increasing the rigidity of a suspension by
forming ridges in the metal. Karam further teaches that the
ridges can be formed by stamping the metal . . . ." The
Examiner finds that "Karam further shows in Figure 8 that the
ridges extend over an edge of a support member (61)" (final
rejection, p. 4). The Examiner concludes that it would have
been obvious to provide the suspension of NHK Spring with
ridges that extend over an edge of the support member and
terminate prior to the spring section in view of Figure 8 of
Karam (final rejection, p. 4).
Out of the entire limitation of "the first rigid beam
section having a flat planar base with a stamped ridge rising
above the base and extending along an interior portion of its
length from the first portion overlying the support member,
through the second portion extending beyond the support
member, and terminating at a position proximate to, but not
inside, a flexible spring section," the majority concludes
that the Examiner has failed to establish the obviousness of
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