Ex Parte Hardwick - Page 5

                Appeal 2007-1124                                                                             
                Application 10/349,639                                                                       
                                    ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS                                                 
                      I. Has the Examiner shown that Smith, either expressly or                              
                            inherently, discloses the feature of mechanically embossed                       
                            texture on the tile edges?”                                                      
                   Appellant argues that Smith cannot anticipate the claims because Smith                    
                fails to disclose a mechanically embossed texture on the tile edges.  Br. 8.                 
                Although the Examiner correctly notes that Smith teaches the step of                         
                embossing vinyl tiles to form a decorative layer (Answer 6), it is clear from                
                Smith’s disclosure that the tile edges are beveled after the embossing step.                 
                The beveling step provides smooth edges.  (FF 4).  Accordingly, we are in                    
                agreement with Appellant that Smith fails to disclose, either expressly or                   
                inherently, a mechanically embossed texture on the tile edges.                               
                      The rejection of claims 34 and 36-38 under 35 U.S.C § 102(b) as                        
                anticipated by Smith is reversed.  Because the rejection of claim 35 under                   
                35 U.S.C § 103(a) is similarly based on the Examiner’s finding that Smith                    
                discloses a tile having mechanically embossed edges, we also reverse the                     
                rejection of claim 35 as unpatentable over Smith.                                            
                      II.   Has the Examiner shown that it would have been obvious to                        
                      one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to provide               
                      the feature of mechanically embossed texture the edges of tile based                   
                      on the combined teachings of Smith and Ehrhart?”                                       
                      The Examiner found that Smith discloses the invention as claimed in                    
                claim 24 with the exception of one half of the even number of edges being                    
                routed and each of the routed edges being adjacent to one another.  Answer                   
                5.  The Examiner relies on Ehrhart for a disclosure of tiles having routed                   
                edges.  Answer 5.  The Examiner maintains that it would have been obvious                    

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