Appeal No. 2004-0331
Application No. 09/432,313
the rim. The pan further includes sides extending downwardly from
the rim to form a bottom portion, with the bottom portion being
displaced rearwardly with respect to the midpoint of the length
dimension.
As aptly recognized by the examiner (Answer, pages 4-5), AAPA
(as described in the “Background” section of appellant’s
specification) reveals knowledge in the art at the time of
appellant’s invention of a commode seat having an opening of
generally circular shape, and a pan that is also circular in
configuration to fit underneath and coincide with the opening in
the commode seat. AAPA also reveals that it was known at the time
of appellant’s invention to provide a commode seat having an
elongated opening where the minor axis width of the elongated
opening is about the same dimension as a prior circular opening and
the major axis length of the elongated opening is longer than a
prior circular opening.
Rose reveals that it was known in the art at the time of
appellant’s invention to provide a commode chair comprising a rim
34 defining an elongated opening 32 where the length is longer than
the width, and a pan 36 configured to fit underneath the seat
having an elongated opening to coincide with the elongated opening
in the seat. Thus, Rose teaches a commode seat and pan combination
5
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