Appeal 2007-3147
Application 10/072,435
could be separated when worn, leaving a different configuration
(exemplified as a quarter, half, or three-quarter size) of the body portion to
be subsequently used. Accordingly, we determine that one of ordinary skill
in this art would have used regions of weakened material (score lines or
perforations) in a full-size sandpaper sheet to alter the configuration of the
sheet to match any conventional quarter, third, or half-size sanding machine
(and the corresponding platen). As further evidence of this determination,
Pearce discloses sandpaper that can be used with different models of sanding
machines, and teaches that full-size sheets may have separable or frangible
perforated delineations that divide the sheet so that it can be configured to fit
on the conventional quarter, third, or half-size sanding machines (see Factual
Findings (5) and (6) listed above and Fig. 4 of Pearce).
For the foregoing reasons and those stated in the Answer, we
determine that the configurations of both the body and tip portions would
have been reasonably suggested to one of ordinary skill in this art by the
applied prior art. Therefore, we AFFIRM both grounds of rejection present
in this appeal. The decision of the Examiner is affirmed.
No time period for taking any subsequent action in connection with
this appeal may be extended under 37 C.F.R. § 1.136(a)(1)(iv).
AFFIRMED
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