Appeal No. 2003-2098 Page 12
Application No. 09/833,978
connection 33. When the switch is in the "On" position of Figure 5 the end portion 61 of
each bridging contact member 48 engages respective stationary contacts 31 and 32
and the end portion 52 of each bridging contact member 48 engages respective
stationary contacts 53 and 54. The "OFF" position of the switch is shown in Figure 2.
After the scope and content of the prior art are determined, the differences
between the prior art and the claims at issue are to be ascertained. Graham v. John
Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 17-18, 148 USPQ 459, 467 (1966).
Based on our analysis and review of Freeman and claim 2, it is our opinion that
the only differences are (1) a ground prong extending outward from the first end of the
housing and (2) a ground receptacle in electrical communication with the ground prong.
In applying the above-noted test for obviousness, we reach the conclusion that it
would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person of ordinary
skill in the art to have modified Freeman's adapter by providing both a ground prong
extending outward from the first end of the adapter (i.e., the end of the adapter from
which the prongs 17 and 18 extend) and a ground receptacle in the second end of the
adapter (i.e., the end of the adapter with recesses 27 and 28) in electrical
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