Ex Parte POINTEAU et al - Page 8




              Appeal No. 2004-0214                                                                  Page 8                
              Application No. 09/446,516                                                                                  


              The prior art rejection of claims 1 to 12, 15 to 17, 20 to 32, 34 and 35                                    
                     We will not sustain the rejection of claims 1 to 12, 15 to 17, 20 to 32, 34 and 35                   
              under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as being anticipated by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C.                    
              § 103 as obvious over Deaton.                                                                               


                     To anticipate a claim, a prior art reference must disclose every limitation of the                   
              claimed invention, either explicitly or inherently.  In re Schreiber, 128 F.3d 1473, 1477,                  
              44 USPQ2d 1429, 1431 (Fed. Cir. 1997).  As stated in In re Oelrich, 666 F.2d 578, 581,                      
              212 USPQ 323, 326 (CCPA 1981) (quoting Hansgirg v. Kemmer, 102 F.2d 212, 214, 40                            
              USPQ 665, 667 (CCPA 1939)) (internal citations omitted):                                                    
                     Inherency, however, may not be established by probabilities or possibilities.  The                   
                     mere fact that a certain thing may result from a given set of circumstances is not                   
                     sufficient.  If, however, the disclosure is sufficient to show that the natural result               
                     flowing from the operation as taught would result in the performance of the                          
                     questioned function, it seems to be well settled that the disclosure should be                       
                     regarded as sufficient.                                                                              
              Thus, a prior art reference may anticipate when the claim limitation or limitations not                     
              expressly found in that reference are nonetheless inherent in it.  See In re Oelrich, 666                   
              F.2d at 581, 212 USPQ at 326; Verdegaal Bros., Inc. v. Union Oil Co., 814 F.2d 628,                         
              630, 2 USPQ2d 1051, 1053 (Fed. Cir. 1987).  Under the principles of inherency, if the                       
              prior art necessarily functions in accordance with, or includes, the claimed limitations, it                
              anticipates.  See In re King, 801 F.2d 1324, 1326, 231 USPQ 136, 138 (Fed. Cir. 1986).                      
              However, inherency is not necessarily coterminous with the knowledge of those of                            







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