Appeal No. 2004-0984
Application No. 09/501,970 Page 11
and ergonomic access by a user’s hand digit, as
they each require the lifting of the hand digit
to reach other buttons within the grouping. It
is therefore desirable, to have a button grouping
configuration and design that would allow a user
to slide, glide or roll his thumb or finger easily
from one button in the grouping to another without
having to lift if from the controller, and without
it "catching" on another button.
From this disclosure of Sayler, we find a recognition of the
problem of button pairs that protrude from the top of the surface
of the controller and require lifting of the hand digit to reach
other buttons within the grouping. Sayler's solution is to have
a button grouping that will allow the user to slide, glide or
roll his/her thumb or finger easily from one button of the
grouping to another without having to lift it from the
controller, and without it catching on another button. Sayler's
solution to the problem is providing a button grouping
configuration within a recess to allow comfortable and quick
access to each of the buttons in the grouping. Sayler adds,
(col. 3, lines 26 and 27) that the buttons are arranged in pairs,
along radii which converge toward the user's thumb pivot joint.
From the disclosure of Sayler of placing the buttons of a
group within a recess to provide quick and comfortable access to
the buttons, we agree with the examiner that an artisan would
have been motivated to place each of the button groups 14, 18 of
Lansang within a recess.
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