Ex Parte HUNNICUTT et al - Page 12




          Appeal No. 2003-1025                                                        
          Application No. 09/224,918                                                  


          which applicant regards as the invention.  Accordingly, we                  
          reverse.                                                                    
               With respect to dependent claim 37, we do not find the claim           
          to be indefinite.  We find that one skilled in the art would                
          fully understand the claim.                                                 
               Therefore, we will not sustain the Examiner's rejection                
          under 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 2.                                                 
            IV. Whether the Rejection of Claims 1, 3, 7-11, 14-15, 17,                
                 20-25, and 28-49 Under 35 U.S.C. § 103 is proper?                    
               It is our view, after consideration of the record before us,           
          that the evidence relied upon and the level of skill in the                 
          particular art would not have suggested to one of ordinary skill            
          in the art the obviousness of the invention as set forth in                 
          claims 1, 3, 7-11, 14-15, 17, 20-25, and 28-49.  Accordingly, we            
          reverse.                                                                    
               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                


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