Appeal No. 2002-0507 Page 4
Application No. 09/405,872
Here, independent claim 1 specifies in pertinent part the following limitations:
"[a] bracket for holding a printed circuit board in relation to a connector . . . having a
block with one or more mounting screwholes therein and a plurality of wire wrap pins
extending upwardly therefrom, comprising a mounting element adapted to engage at
least one mounting screwhole on the connector for attaching the bracket to the
connector. . . ." Claim 12, the other independent claim on appeal, includes similar
limitations. Focussing on the language of the independent claims, the limitations
require a bracket having a mounting element for attaching the bracket to a connector
block via at least one mounting screwhole in the connector block, the block having wire
wrap pins extending upwardly therefrom.
Anticipation Determination
"Having construed the claim limitations at issue, we now compare the claims to
the prior art to determine if the prior art anticipates those claims." In re Cruciferous
Sprout Litig., 301 F.3d 1343, 1349, 64 USPQ2d 1202, 1206 (Fed. Cir. 2002). "A claim
is anticipated only if each and every element as set forth in the claim is found, either
expressly or inherently described, in a single prior art reference." Verdegaal Bros., Inc.
v. Union Oil Co., 814 F.2d 628, 631, 2 USPQ2d 1051, 1053 (Fed. Cir. 1987) (citing
Structural Rubber Prods. Co. v. Park Rubber Co., 749 F.2d 707, 715, 223 USPQ 1264,
1270 (Fed. Cir. 1984); Connell v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 722 F.2d 1542, 1548, 220
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