Appeal No. 2006-1546
Application No. 09/974,262
(i.e., tear-line). Appellants indicate that Otsuka does not use
only one or two ribs (i.e., ridges) for reinforcing the recess
region. Appellants refer to Otsuka’s figures 1-7 to show that
the there are four ribs (i.e., ridges)(26) and eight side ribs
(i.e., ridges)(30). Moreover, Appellants state that each
breakage part (i.e., tear line) would be required to have at
least one rib (i.e., ridge) according to Otsuka’s disclosure.
From this alleged teaching, Appellants determine that the sum of
the ribs (i.e., ridges) would exceed the “only one or two
independent ridges” limitation. (Reply Brief, page 6).
Contrary to Appellants arguments regarding the features of
claims 19 and 20, Otsuka teaches that the ribs may number “one
or more.” (English Translation, ¶ [0014]). Otsuka’s teaching
that the ribs (i.e., ridges) number “one or more” appears to be
directed toward the total number of ribs (i.e., ridges) on the
airbag cover (i.e., both sets of ribs (i.e., ridges) 26 and 30
are included in the total). (English Translation, ¶ [0014]).
This interpretation of Otsuka is reasonable because paragraph
[0014] refers to a “breakage part” (i.e., tear line) which
Otsuka later explains in paragraph [0035] to be indicated by
reference numeral 16 in Figure 1. As further explained in
paragraph [0035], breakage part (i.e., tear line) 16 is composed
18
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