Appeal Number: 2006-1938
Application Number: 10/823,886
Kawamatsu discloses a set of clubs wherein the cross-
sectional angles of the corner portions of the face grooves
progressively decrease beginning with the long irons and
progressing to the short irons. Consequently, the irons with
low club numbers impart a lesser amount of backspin and the
backspin is increased gradually for irons with higher club
numbers. See Col. 4, lines 14-24; Col.4, lines 31-45. Note
that in tables 2 and 3 actual values for backspin, carry and run
are given for selected clubs with iron numbers 3, 6 and 9.
Tables 2 and 3 show that the club face designs of Kawamatsu do
result in lesser backspin for low club number irons and greater
backspin for high club number irons as compared to conventional
golf clubs of the same club number. This is as Kawamatsu
desires—increased backspin for the higher numbered clubs.
Principals of Law
A claimed invention is unpatentable if the differences
between it and the prior art are such that the subject matter as
a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was
made to a person having ordinary skill in the pertinent art. In
re Kahn, 441 F3d. 977, 985, 78 USPQ2d 1329, 1334-35 (Fed. Cir.
2006)(citing 35 U.S.C. §103(a) (2000)); Graham v. John Deere
Co., 383 U.S. 1, 13-14, 148 USPQ 459, 467 (1966). The ultimate
determination of whether an invention would have been obvious is
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