Appeal No. 2003-1946
Application 09/156,952
proximate structure of an automated test apparatus when installed
therein to facilitate at least one automated removal and
installation of the cap.
The appellants argue that the lower edges of Brodner’s
ridges appear to be beveled or tapered rather than being
substantially perpendicular to the body outer surface (brief,
page 6; reply brief, page 4). Brodner does not disclose that the
lower edges of the ridges are beveled or tapered, or indicate
that they should be beveled or tapered, and the ridges in
figure 4, particularly the one on the left side, appear to have
lower edges which are perpendicular to the body outer surface.
Thus, the ridges which Brodner would have been fairly suggested
to one of ordinary skill in the art include ridges having lower
edges which are substantially perpendicular to the body outer
surface.
The appellants argue that the lower edges of Brodner’s
sleeve outer ridges must be beveled in order to not abut against
the upper edges of the tray ridges when the sleeve is slid into
the tray aperture (brief, page 7; reply brief, page 5).
Brodner’s sleeve outer ridges, however, do not need to press
against the tray ridges but, rather, can slide between the tray
ridges (col. 3, lines 38-40). Sleeve outer ridge lower edges
5
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