Appeal No. 2001-2045 Page 7
Application No. 09/360,936
Figures 1-15 illustrate the details of an elastomeric rocker switch assembly 10, in
combination with a radio frequency transmitting circuit 33. Elastomeric rocker switch
assembly 10 has three basic parts: a switch pad 11; a base plate 25; and an electrical
switch support shown as printed circuit board 29.
Switch pad 11 has three components which are integrally attached together,
preferably molded as a single piece from an elastomeric material. The three
components are (1) a switch pad base member 12, (2) one or more rocker switch
blocks 13, and (3) thin web connectors 14. Each switch block 13 is suspended within
base member 12 by two thin elastomeric web connectors 14. Schooley teaches
(column 2, lines 8-11; column 3, lines 39-40) that advantageously, the switch pad base
member 12, rocker switch blocks 13 and thin web connectors 14 are all integrally
molded from an elastomeric material such as rubber, rubberized plastic or Teflon®.
The examiner's position
In the rejection of claim 21 before us in this appeal (answer, pp. 3-4), the
examiner (1) ascertained8 that Yamamoto "discloses all of the claimed limitations with
8 After the scope and content of the prior art are determined, the differences between the prior
art and the claims at issue are to be ascertained. Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 17-18, 148
USPQ 459, 467 (1966).
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