Appeal 2007-0870
Reissue Application 09/902,904
Patent 6,038,784
rotational position that corresponds to said second operative position" to the
apparatus of claim 16.
i. Slipp, Folini and Chang
Slipp and Folini have been described above.
Chang discloses an expandable and retractable multiple article drying
rack, e.g., for various components of a baby bottle assembly (col. 1, ll. 8-13).
In one embodiment, Chang describes a rack comprising a plurality of
rotatable connectors in its base assembly, including an annular stop element
and a latch element contractable by application of inwardly directable force
(col. 3, ll. 11-15; col. 3, l. 66 to col. 4, l. 34; Figs. 6 and 7).
The Examiner concluded that it would have been obvious to one
skilled in the art to combine the teachings of Slipp and Folini with Chang's
disclosure of "a stop member ring support mount for imparting lateral
stability including locking means with or without a cam stop member at
column 3 line 66 through column 4 line 34. . .for the purpose of providing a
supporting an article" (Answer, 10).
ii. Appellants' position
Claims 12-17 depend, directly or indirectly, from claim 11. As to
claims 12-17, Appellants reiterate their argument that the applied prior art
fails to address the limitation that "said entire peg is positioned adjacent to
said upper face for storage and packaging of said apparatus" (Br., 42-45).
iii. analysis
We reiterate our analysis of Slipp given above (§ C.1.c.(i)) and our
finding that Slipp, in fact, discloses the claim limitation that "said entire peg
is positioned adjacent to said upper face for storage and packaging of said
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