Appeal No. 2003-0065
Application 09/491,284
be a "pad" since claim 10 does not define the slider to have any
structure besides a transducer and a pad. The slider material is
in direct contact with the disk surface during normal operation
(col. 3, lines 30-34; col. 4, lines 12-15). The slider has a
triangular shape to counteract any tendency for the slider to be
moved off-track by the film of air (col. 4, lines 65-68); the
shape would also inherently push debris to the side, but we note
that no function for appellants' shape has been claimed. The
rejection of claims 10-12, 26, 31, and 33-39 is sustained.
Claims 17 and 18
Appellants argue that claims 17 and 18 distinguish over
Brezoczky for the reason stated for claim 10 and, furthermore,
that Brezoczky fails to teach "the pad includes a wedge-shaped
portion" as recited in claim 17 (Br11).
The thin sheet 52 in Fig. 5, the leading member 64 in
Fig. 6, and the slider 16 in Fig. 2 all have wedge shapes.
Appellants have not said why they do not. The rejection of
claims 17 and 18 is sustained.
Obviousness - Brezoczky
Claims 13 and 19
Claim 13 is selected as representative.
The examiner states (FR2): "The Examiner takes Official
[N]otice that it is [sic, was] old and well known in the art to
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