Appeal No. 2006-1867
Application No. 10/820,259
electrically insulating an electrical conductor comprising a
first plurality of ribs, wherein the exterior of the connector
body has a second plurality of ribs comprising a substantially
uniform series of ribs looping around the exterior. A fuel
flange is then molded around the connector body. The first and
second plurality of ribs define tortuous paths for impeding the
passage of hydrocarbon fuel.
Appealed claims 18, 20-22, 25-28 and 30-32 stand rejected
under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Onoda in
view of Bickford.
We have thoroughly reviewed the respective positions
advanced by appellants and the examiner. In so doing, we find
ourselves in agreement with appellants that the examiner has
failed to establish a prima facie case of obviousness for the
claimed subject matter. Accordingly, we will not sustain the
examiner's rejection.
Onoda, the primary reference, does not teach an electrical
conductor with the claimed first plurality of ribs, but
appellants concede that "it would be obvious to provide metal
terminals 4,5 of Onoda with ribs in view of the ribs 22 of the
contacts 12 in Bickford" (page 2 of Reply Brief, second
paragraph). The examiner also acknowledges that "Onoda does not
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Last modified: November 3, 2007