Appeal No. 2002-0487
Application No. 09/377,371
Appellants argue that Boyer does not disclose a means for
protecting. However, the limitation is construed in light of the
specification to be a rubber strap. Boyer discloses such a
strap, and Boyer clearly teaches use of the rubber strap on a
tightening strap. Note that "as long as some motivation or
suggestion to combine the references is provided by the prior art
taken as a whole, the law does not require that the references be
combined for the reasons contemplated by the inventor." In re
Beattie, 974 F.2d 1309, 1312, 24 USPQ2d 1040, 1042 (Fed. Cir.
1992) citing In re Kronig, 539 F.2d 1300, 1304, 190 USPQ 425,
427-28 (CCPA 1976); In re Lintner, 458 F.2d 1013, 1016, 173 USPQ
560, 562 (CCPA 1972).
Summary
The rejection of all claims on appeal has been affirmed.
77
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007