Appeal No. 2003-2098 Page 10
Application No. 09/833,978
The obviousness rejection based on Freeman and Osika
We sustain the rejection of claims 2 to 4, 6, 7 and 9 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as
being unpatentable over Freeman in view of Osika.
The test for obviousness is what the combined teachings of the references would
have suggested to one of ordinary skill in the art. See In re Young, 927 F.2d 588, 591,
18 USPQ2d 1089, 1091 (Fed. Cir. 1991) and In re Keller, 642 F.2d 413, 425, 208
USPQ 871, 881 (CCPA 1981). Moreover, in evaluating such references it is proper to
take into account not only the specific teachings of the references but also the
inferences which one skilled in the art would reasonably be expected to draw therefrom.
In re Preda, 401 F.2d 825, 826, 159 USPQ 342, 344 (CCPA 1968).
Claim 2 reads as follows:
An electrical interrupt switch comprising:
a housing having a first end opposite a second end and a top surface;
a pair of male blade connectors extending outward from said first end;
a ground prong extending outward from said first end;
female receptacle connectors penetrating said second end opposite said
male blade connectors;
a ground receptacle in electrical communication with said ground prong;
and
switch means accessible through said top surface for allowing a user to
open or close an electrical circuit between said male blade connectors and said
female receptacle connectors, respectively.
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