Ex Parte Conte - Page 4



          Appeal No. 2006-0635                                                                          
          Application No. 10/643,288                                                                    

          stretches the resilient band 5 and releasably engages its free                                
          end with the fixed piece 7, grasps the handle portion 1 with an                               
          index finger on the trigger 9, points the gun at a fly or other                               
          insect (see Figure 1), and pulls the trigger causing the end 13                               
          thereof to disengage the resilient band 5 from the fixed piece 7,                             
          whereby the free end of the band is snapped forwardly of the gun                              
          to strike the target (see page 1, lines 59-74).                                               
               As conceded by the examiner (see page 3 in the final                                     
          rejection), Kopp does not meet the limitation in independent                                  
          claim 1 requiring the elastic lash to include a pair of annular                               
          rubber bands joined together at a knot therebetween, or the                                   
          corresponding limitation in independent claim 17 requiring the                                
          lash to be configured in a figure eight with first and second                                 
          knot-less loops at opposite ends joined together at a knot                                    
          therebetween.  The appellant’s specification (see, for example                                
          paragraphs [0052-0071]) indicates that these features provide the                             
          lash with improved performance as compared with a simple rubber                               
          band lash.  In contrast, Kopp’s lash, resilient band 5, appears                               
          to be in the form of a flat strip.                                                            
               The examiner deals with the admitted failure of Kopp to meet                             
          the lash limitations in claims 1 and 17 by submitting that:                                   














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