Ex Parte ATES - Page 3



          Appeal No. 2004-1463                                                        
          Application 09/401,221                                                      

          Rather than repeat the arguments of appellant or the                        
          examiner, we make reference to the briefs and the answer for the            
          respective details thereof.                                                 
          OPINION                                                                     
          We have carefully considered the subject matter on                          
          appeal, the rejection advanced by the examiner and the evidence             
          of obviousness relied upon by the examiner as support for the               
          rejection.  We have, likewise, reviewed and taken into                      
          consideration, in reaching our decision, the appellant’s                    
          arguments set forth in the briefs along with the examiner’s                 
          rationale in support of the rejection and arguments in rebuttal             
          set forth in the examiner’s answer.                                         
          It is our view, after consideration of the record before                    
          us, that the examiner has failed to provide a record which                  
          supports the rejection.  Accordingly, we reverse.                           
          In rejecting claims under 35 U.S.C. § 103, it is                            
          incumbent upon the examiner to establish a factual basis to                 
          support the legal conclusion of obviousness.  See In re Fine, 837           
          F.2d 1071, 1073, 5 USPQ2d 1596, 1598 (Fed. Cir. 1988).  In so               
          doing, the examiner is expected to make the factual                         
          determinations set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1,           
          17, 148 USPQ 459, 467 (1966), and to provide a reason why one               
                                         -3-                                          




Page:  Previous  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  Next 

Last modified: November 3, 2007