Appeal No. 2002-0352
Application 09/374,205
7-9 and reply brief, pages 3-4) that absent the use of
impermissible hindsight, there exists no suggestion or
motivation to selectively pick and choose certain elements
(i.e., the tab/lip 46 and slot 32) that assist in providing
the “generally perpendicular” locking arrangement of Gringer
and install them into the elements of the utility knife of
Gilbert that provide for a entirely different longitudinal
“sliding” locking arrangement between the first and second
handle portions.
Like appellant, we note that Gringer (col. 1)
specifically refers to the utility knife of Gilbert (U.S.
Patent No. 5,121,544) and describes the interengagement of the
handle portions and locking arrangement of Gilbert as being
“difficult to operate” (col. 1, line 63) because of the need
to push the actuating lever of the locking mechanism and slide
the separable handle halves in opposite directions generally
parallel to the central axis of the knife to effect
disengagement of the separable handle halves. Gringer goes on
to describe his invention as an alternative to the arrangement
4
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