Appeal No. 2003-1275 Page 2
Application No. 09/443,456
BACKGROUND
The appellants’ invention relates to a system and process for forming
workpieces. Further understanding of the invention may be obtained from a reading of
independent claims 1 and 27 which are reproduced, infra, in the opinion section of this
decision.
The examiner relied upon the following prior art references in rejecting the
appealed claims:
Koser 4,043,1671 Aug. 23, 1977
Prinz et al. (Prinz) 5,301,863 Apr. 12, 1994
Hashimoto et al. (Hashimoto) 615,799 Sep. 21, 1994
(European patent application)
The following rejections are before us for review.2
(1) Claims 1-8, 10, 17, 18 , 23, 25 and 27-30 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
§ 102(b) as being anticipated by Hashimoto.
(2) Claims 1, 5-8, 10, 11, 13-17, 23, 25 and 27-30 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
§ 102(b) as being anticipated by Prinz.
1 The examiner’s citation, on page 3 of the answer, of U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,157, also issued to
Koser, appears to be in error, as the rejection from which this appeal is taken (Paper No. 19, page 5) and
the rejection as stated on page 4 of the answer both make clear reference to U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,167.
2 The additional rejections set forth in the rejection (Paper No. 19) from which this appeal is taken
have been withdrawn by the examiner (see pages 2 and 3 of the answer).
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