Appeal No. 2006-2248 Application No. 10/158,618 recapture analysis, North American Container has clarified the application of the three-step framework analysis. North American Container holds that the “inner walls” limitation (a portion of the issued claim that was added to the rejected claim by amendment) was “subject matter that was surrendered during prosecution of the original-filed claims.” 415 F.3d at 1350, 75 USPQ2d at 1557. It is believed that the Substep (3)(a) rationale of the Eggert majority (1) is not consistent with the rationale of the Federal Circuit in North American Container and (2) should no longer be followed or be applicable to proceedings before the USPTO. - 25 -Page: Previous 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 NextLast modified: November 3, 2007