Ex Parte PFAB et al - Page 5



          Appeal No. 2001-1077                                                        
          Application No. 09/051,506                                                  

          614 in Schmiedel is illustrated, for example in Figure 23, as a             
          plurality of composite parts, the structural nature of which is not         
          described in the disclosure of Schmiedel.  Given this deficiency in         
          the disclosure of Schmiedel, it is our view that any conclusions            
          drawn as to the structure of Schmiedel’s magnet supporting region           
          below rubber blanket element 614 can only be based on unwarranted           
          speculation.                                                                
               As to the Examiner’s position that the asserted first and              
          second magnet supporting areas in Schmiedel have differing elastic          
          resiliency as claimed “...due to the left-right symmetry of the             
          magnetic chamber base” (Answer, page 2), we find the record totally         
          devoid of any evidentiary support for such a position.  “[T]he              
          Board cannot simply reach conclusions based on it own understanding         
          or experience - or on its assessment of what would be basic                 
          knowledge or common sense.  Rather, the Board must point to some            
          concrete evidence in the record in support of these findings.”  In          
          re Zurko, 258 F.3d 1379, 1386, 59 USPQ2d 1693, 1697 (Fed. Cir.              
          2001).  See also In re Lee, 277 F.3d 1338, 1344-45, 61 USPQ2d 1430,         
          1434-35 (Fed. Cir. 2002), in which the court required evidence for          
          the determination of unpatentability by clarifying that the                 
          principles of “common knowledge” and “common sense” may only be             
          applied to analysis of evidence, rather than be a substitute for            
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