Ex Parte Lam et al - Page 8



          Appeal No. 2006-1990                                             Παγε 8                            
          Application No. 10/678,231                                                                         

          find that the reference relates to artificial eyes for use in                                      
          toys such as dolls, and for use in mannequins (col. 1, lines 6-                                    
          8).  The lens (cornea 24) may be colored or pigmented to                                           
          eliminate the iris 22 (col. 4, lines 21 and 22).                                                   
                Turning to Deeg, the reference is not drawn to an artificial                                 
          eye as asserted by the examiner (answer, page 3).  Rather the                                      
          reference is drawn to a replacement lens for a natural eye.  As                                    
          illustrated in Figure 1, replacement lens 10 is secured to iris                                    
          14 by connectors 16, 18.  Deeg discloses that there is an ongoing                                  
          need and search in the art for a desirable way to reduce the net                                   
          weight of implantable lenses (col. 1, lines 28-30).  Deeg                                          
          discloses the use of a plurality of natural and synthetic                                          
          materials to use for the replacement lenses (see the table at the                                  
          bottom of column 2).  From the disclosure of Nasca as being                                        
          directed to an artificial eye for a doll, and the disclosure of                                    
          Deeg of the need to reduce the weight of a replacement lens                                        
          for use in a human eye, we find no motivation to combine the                                       
          teachings of the references because there is no disclosed or                                       
          suggested need of reducing the weight of the replacement eye in a                                  
          doll.  The doll is inanimate, and would not be affected by a                                       
          higher weight of the artificial eye used.  Accordingly, we agree                                   
          with appellants for the reasons set forth in the brief, as                                         













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