Appeal No. 2006-1085
Application No. 10/392,209
together in a close abutting relationship. More particularly, John discloses a
pallet device or platform (10) comprising modular sections (12-15), each of
which has a vertical side surface (50, 56) with a horizontal flange extending
from the bottom edge of the vertical surface, and a vertical flange extending
upwardly from the horizontal flange so as to define an upwardly open
groove adapted to receive a downwardly extending tongue (52) of a second
platform section. When joined together in the manner seen in Figures 4A
and 5, the pallet sections (e.g., 12, 13) would resist separation due to
vertically oriented upward or downward forces on the pallet sections and
horizontal forces directed perpendicular to the line of joinder between the
pallet sections. This low profile form of connection between the pallet
sections of John allowing the sections to be connected in a close abutting
relationship, in our opinion, would be reasonably pertinent to the particular
connection problem with which the inventor was concerned.
Thus, we conclude that both Karashima and John are analogous prior
art and were properly considered by the examiner in the obviousness
rejection before us on appeal. As a further point, we note that it is well
settled that in cases involving relatively simple every-day mechanical
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