Appeal Number: 2006-1938
Application Number: 10/823,886
golf ball spin from the lower number iron clubs to the higher
numbered clubs is taught by Kobayashi, and the disclosure of
Kawamatsu is suggestive of how to make this modification if it
is desired, it is our legal conclusion that the subject matter
of claim 1 would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill.
Appellant argues that the teachings of the references
are directed to the exact opposite of one another. Brief at
7; Reply at 3. However, such a view is to read the
disclosure of Kawamatsu with blinders on. If Kawamatsu
teaches a groove geometry that increases backspin when
applied in one direction, i.e., with decreasing cross-
sectional angles, then it provides a reasonable expectation
of success that increasing the angles in the direction from
low number clubs to higher number clubs would provide
decreasing backspin. For obviousness under § 103, all that
is required is a reasonable expectation of success. In re
Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 897, 225 USPQ 645, 651-52 (Fed. Cir.
1985; In re Clinton, 527 F.2d 1226, 1228, 188 USPQ 365, 367
(CCPA 1976). The information in the Kawamatsu reference,
when combined with the Kobayashi reference provides such a
reasonable expectation of success.
Appellant argues that the examiner has merely picked
and chosen from portions of the prior art and thus has not
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