Appeal No. 2006-2169 Page 15
Application No. 09/899,919
1. Claim Construction
Claim 3 recites in pertinent part the following limitations: "the side edge of said
positioning slit for said each of the blade portions projects a gable wedge. . . ." Giving
the claim the broadest, reasonable construction, the limitations require that the cutting
edge of the blade parts be formed as a gable wedge.
2. Obviousness Determination
Although Herrmann's blade parts pierce the insulating sheath of a fiber-optic
cable, supra, the reference does not detail the shape of the edge of the blade parts. By
not disclosing a particular shape, we find that Herrmann suggests that any known shape
could have been used. The appellant does not deny that employing a gable wedge to
provide a sharp edge was known in the art. Because Herrmann suggests that any
known shape could have been used; and a gable wedge would have improved the ease
of cutting; we find that those skilled in the art would have been motivated to form the
edge of the blade parts as a gable wedge. Therefore, we affirm the rejection of claim 3.
Page: Previous 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007