dulberg

REVERSED

1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1711 Ex Parte Hardikar et al 11/506,373 OBERMANN 103(a) Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C. KO, JASON Y

1715 Ex Parte Chang 11/715,373 TIMM 103(a) BUCHANAN, INGERSOLL & ROONEY PC BAREFORD, KATHERINE A

1775 Ex Parte Baillargeon 11/637,346 OWENS 103(a) ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company GRAHAM, CHANTEL LORAN

2600 Communications
2629 Ex Parte Lee et al 11/204,188 KOHUT 102(b)/103(a) BRINKS HOFER GILSON & LIONE WALTHALL, ALLISON N

2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2857 Ex Parte Gimelfarb et al 10/738,882 HOFF 102(e)/103(a) Novak Druce & Quigg LLP Joseph Bain BUI, BRYAN

3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3684 Ex Parte Nolte 10/669,104 KIM 102(b) SCHIFF HARDIN, LLP ALTSCHUL, AMBER L

3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3761 Ex Parte Liu 10/827,088 GRIMES 103(a) THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY HANRAHAN, BENEDICT L

3771 Ex Parte Bridges et al 10/511,766 SAINDON 103(a) MCDONNELL BOEHNEN HULBERT & BERGHOFF LLP OSTRUP, CLINTON T

The Examiner sets forth an alternative rationale: that the separation of elements is a design consideration within the skill of the art. Ans. 9 (citing In re Dulberg, 289 F.2d 522 (CCPA 1961)). However, as Appellants point out (Reply Br. 3-4), in Dulberg it was held obvious to make a press fit cap removable because there was a particular reason to make the cap removable: to gain access to the end of the tube upon which the cap was secured. See Dulberg, 289 F.2d at 523. In this case, however, the Examiner has not identified a valid reason to make the first sub-assembly separable from the second. Accordingly, the Examiner’s alternative reasoning is not based on a rational underpinning.

Dulberg, In re, 289 F.2d 522, 129 USPQ 348 (CCPA 1961) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2144.04

3773 Ex Parte Case 11/210,999 SPAHN 103(a) Buchanan Nipper LLC MASHACK, MARK F

AFFIRMED-IN-PART

2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2858 Ex Parte Jackson et al 11/590,349 HOFF 102(b)/103(a) 102(b) HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY DOLE, TIMOTHY J

AFFIRMED

1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1762 Ex Parte Frahn et al 10/522,903 GARRIS 103(a) OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND MAIER & NEUSTADT, L.L.P. NERANGIS, VICKEY M

1775 Ex Parte Babaev 11/562,343 GARRIS 112(1)/102(b)/103(a) Bacoustics, LLC CONLEY, SEAN EVERETT

1781 Ex Parte Saylock et al 11/672,411 GARRIS 112(2)/112(1)/103(a) K&L Gates LLP SAYALA, CHHAYA D

1787 Ex Parte Katz et al 10/700,651 TIMM 112(2)/102(b)/103(a) HITT GAINES, PC ALCATEL-LUCENT ROBINSON, ELIZABETH A

2600 Communications
2627 Ex Parte Zeng 11/351,824 SMITH 102(b)/103(a) HITACHI C/O WAGNER BLECHER LLP MILLER, BRIAN E

3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3736 Ex Parte Dalbo et al 11/374,540 McCOLLUM 103(a) BRENDA POMERANCE DANEGA, RENEE A
 
REMANDED

1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1743 Ex Parte Dubey et al 11/299,641 NAGUMO 102(b)/112(1)/112(2) PHILIP S. JOHNSON JOHNSON & JOHNSON  BODAWALA, DIMPLE N