Appeal No. 2000-2226 Page 3
Application No. 08/827,107
(“Harrison”). Claims 15-18 stand rejected under § 103(a) as obvious over Harrison in
view of U.S. Patent No. 5,197,091 (“Takagi”).
OPINION
After considering the record, we are persuaded that the examiner erred in
rejecting claims 1, 5-8, and 10-18. Accordingly, we reverse and remand. Our opinion
addresses the following groups of claims:
• claims 1 and 5-7
• claims 8 and 10-14
• claims 15-18.
I. Claims 1 and 5-7
Rather than reiterate the positions of the examiner or appellants in toto, we
address the main point of contention therebetween. The examiner asserts, "Macor
states ‘a joystick that is easily manipulated with a figure by user’ , as disclosed on
column 4, lines 8-9; and a [sic] indented (304) potion [sic] in the top which reads on
‘any manipulation member . . . that allow a user to operate the device can be used’, as
disclosed on column 4, lines 25-31[.]" (Examiner's Answer at 4.) The appellants argue,
"Nishiyama and Macor fail to teach or suggest the indented top portion of a joystick as
claimed. . . ." (Reply Br. at 5.)
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