Appeal No. 2003-0790 Page 4
Application No. 09/138,063
peeled from the adhesive coating 14 by separating a corner
of the sheet 16 from the coating 14 and pulling the corner
there across. The photograph is then centered over the
panel 12 and placed in contact with the adhesive coating 14
so that the photograph suitably adheres to the unit 10. The
panel side 20 is then addressed and stamped for mailing.
Of course, an optional message can be applied to the panel
region indicated 24.
If, after receiving the mounted photograph, the
addressee desires to display it, he can either frame the
photograph and unit 10 within the suitable frame or convert
the unit panel 10 to an easel. . . .
An embodiment of the method of this invention
includes the steps of constructing the unit 10. The relatively
rigid panel 12, a suitable adhesive, and the releasable
backing sheet 16 are initially provided. The adhesive is then
layered over the panel marginal portion 32. The releasable
backing sheet 16 is then substantially centered with the
panel side 22 and placed into contact with the adhesive
coating 14. The backing sheet 16 is thereby positioned in
such relationship with the panel 22 that its boundary edges
are substantially even with those of the panel 22.
The examiner concedes that the photograph, which the examiner apparently
considers to be a sheet suitable for printing with a computer printer and having a glossy
front face as recited in claim 14, lacks an adhesive lined on a rear face thereof as also
called for in the claim. The examiner simply dismisses this difference as “an equivalent
alternative to placing the adhesive on the front of the backing material” (answer, page
3) or “a mere reversal of the essential working parts of a device [involving] only routine
skill in the art” (answer, page 6).
Even when obviousness is based on a single prior art reference, there must be a
showing of a suggestion or motivation to modify the teachings of that reference. See In
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