Ex Parte SHAW et al - Page 5




          Appeal No. 2002-1448                                                        
          Application 09/067,321                                                      


               In rejecting claims under 35 U.S.C. § 103, the Examiner                
          bears the initial burden of establishing a prima facie case of              
          obviousness.  In re Oetiker, 977 F.2d 1443, 1445, 24 USPQ2d 1443,           
          1444 (Fed. Cir. 1992).  See also In re Piasecki, 745 F.2d 1468,             
          1472, 223 USPQ 785, 788 (Fed. Cir. 1984).  The Examiner can                 
          satisfy this burden by showing that some objective teaching in              
          the prior art or knowledge generally available to one of ordinary           
          skill in the art suggests the claimed subject matter.                       
          In re Fine, 837 F.2d 1071, 1074, 5 USPQ2d 1596, 1598 (Fed. Cir.             
          1988).  Only if this initial burden is met does the burden of               
          coming forward with evidence or argument shift to the Appellants.           
          Oetiker 977 F.2d at 1445, 24 USPQ2d at 1444.  See also Piasecki,            
          745 F.2d at 1472, 223 USPQ at 788.                                          
               An obviousness analysis commences with a review and                    
          consideration of all the pertinent evidence and arguments.  “In             
          reviewing the [E]xaminer’s decision on appeal, the Board must               
          necessarily weigh all of the evidence and argument.”                        
          In re Oetiker, 977 F.2d at 1445, 24 USPQ2d at 1444.  “[T]he Board           
          must not only assure that the requisite findings are made, based            
          on evidence of record, but must also explain the reasoning                  



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