REVERSED
Tech Center 1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry
1618 Ex Parte Zeng et al 14986774 - (D) GRIMES 103 KACVINSKY DAISAK BLUNI PLLC VU, JAKE MINH
Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1717 Ex Parte BRUCK 13658866 - (D) TIMM 103 SIEMENS CORPORATION LAW, NGA LEUNG V
1721 Ex Parte Reilly et al 13932721 - (D) ROBERTSON 103 WOOD, HERRON & EV ANS, LLP GONZALEZ RAMOS, MA YLA
Tech Center 2100 Computer Architecture and Software
2100 Ex Parte KOLOVSKI et al 14047318 - (D) EVANS 101 Kraguljac Law Group/Oracle PULLIAM, CHRISTY ANN R
Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security
2438 Ex Parte KOUFATY et al 14519648 - (D) BEAMER 101 LOWENSTEIN SANDLER LLP / Intel JEUDY, JOSNEL
Tech Center 2600 Communications
2624 Ex Parte Avison-Fell et al 13764554 - (D) NAPPI 103 KILPATRICK TOWNSEND & STOCKTON LLP (DISH) DISH Network L.L.C. LEE,ANDREW
Tech Center 2800 Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and Components
2819 Ex Parte LIU et al 14861886 - (D) NAGUMO 103 NXP USA, Inc. BRADLEY, STEPHEN M
Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3636 Ex Parte Kimes 13408724 - (D) PLENZLER 103 McCracken & Gillen LLC KIM, SHIN H
3686 Ex Parte AMUNDSON 13094443 - (D) SCHOPPER 101 STERNE, KESSLER, GOLDSTEIN & FOX P.L.L.C. AUGUSTINE, VICTORIA PEARL
3687 Ex Parte Wu et al 14303809 - (D) SHAW 103 FAY SHARPE LLP / CONDUENT LUDWIG, PETER L
Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3752 Ex Parte PIPE et al 14676383 - (D) PLENZLER 102 Harness Dickey (Troy) BOECKMANN, JASON J
3761 Ex Parte Hino et al 14127735 - (D) STEPINA 103 OLIFF PLC WARD, THOMAS JOHN
In the Answer, the Examiner states "Hirota discloses the same structure as the claimed invention and would be able to perform the same steps of a method as claimed," and "it has been held that the recitation that an element is 'capable of' performing a function is not a positive limitation, but only requires the ability to so perform[, i]t does not constitute a limitation in any patentable sense." Ans. 6 ( citing In re Hutchison, 154 F.2d. 135 (C.C.P.A. 1946).5
We disagree with the Examiner's application of Hutchison in the context of claim 1 because, as Appellants correctly point out (Reply Br. 34), claim 1 is a method claim that specifically requires a particular process to be performed, namely, "generating a wrinkle in a widthwise central portion of the steel sheet by preheating the steel sheet" (Appeal Br. A-1 (Claims App.)). The claim at issue in Hutchison was a product claim, and the language at issue related to the intended use of the claimed product. Hutchison, 154 F.2d at 137-138. Thus, to the extent Hutchison indicates that, in some cases, functional recitations do not carry patentable weight in product claims, 6 the facts of Hutchison are critically different from those present here.
...
"Taking first claim 42 for analysis ... the first phraseology italicized by appellant is the introductory clause to the effect that the laminated article is 'adapted' for use in making a template or the like. This does not constitute a limitation in any patentable sense." Hutchison, 154 F .2d at 138 ( emphases added); but see In re Gianelli, 739 F.3d 1375, 1379 (Fed. Cir. 2014) "We have noted that, 'the phrase 'adapted to' is frequently used to mean 'made to,' 'designed to,' or 'configured to,' ... [a]lthough the phrase can also mean 'capable of or 'suitable for."' Internal citation omitted.
Giannelli, In re, 739 F.3d 1375, 109 USPQ2d 1333 (Fed. Cir. 2014) 2111.04
3783 Ex Parte Andino et al 13500853 - (D) WARNER 112(2)/102/103 BD/Rutan & Tucker, LLP HALL, DEANNA K
3792 Ex Parte Polak 14316952 - (D) SONG 102/103 Sunstein Kann Murphy & Timbers LLP DINGA, ROLAND
3792 Ex Parte Young et al 14377498 - (D) GRIMES 103 SHUMAKER & SIEFFERT, P.A GRAND, JENNIFER LEIGH-STEW AR
AFFIRMED-IN-PART
Tech Center 2600 Communications
2619 Ex Parte Fear 14146634 - (D) COURTENAY 103 103 PARKER JUSTISS, P.C./Nvidia NGUYEN, VU
Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3745 Ex Parte Devore et al 14854213 - (D) HOFFMANN 103 103 CARLSON, GASKEY & OLDS/PRATT & WHITNEY KIM, SANG K
3753 Ex Parte Greeb et al 14803711 - (D) FITZPATRICK 112(2)/103 103 REINHART BOERNER VAN DEUREN P.C. BARSS, KEVIN R
AFFIRMED
Tech Center 1600 Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry
1633 Ex Parte May et al 14751058 - (D) FREDMAN 112(1) 103 Caribou Biosciences, Inc. NGUYEN, QUANG
1655 Ex Parte Iino et al 13822762 - (D) ADAMS 103 Foley & Lardner LLP CLARK, AMYL YNN
Tech Center 1700 Chemical & Materials Engineering
1747 Ex Parte Buxton et al 13895149 - (D) McGEE 103 BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS, INC. DYE, ROBERT C
1766 Ex Parte Chirino et al 13799395 - (D) HASTINGS 103 Covestro LLC RODD, CHRISTOPHER M
1788 Ex Parte Dooley et al 14082811 - (D) TIMM 103 Hoffman Warnick LLC GOLDEN, CHINESSA T
1788 Ex Parte Steelman et al 14232938 - (D) GAUDETTE 103 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY WALSHON, SCOTT R
1788 Ex Parte Steelman et al 14232947 - (D) GAUDETTE 103 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY WALSHON, SCOTT R
Tech Center 2400 Networking, Multiplexing, Cable, and Security
2448 Ex Parte GARDELL et al 12174963 - (D) PINKERTON 103 LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC STRANGE, AARON N
Tech Center 2600 Communications
2652 Ex Parte Jasiuk et al 13950980 - (D) CHEN 103 FISH & RICHARDSON P.C. POPE, KHARYE
Tech Center 3600 Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review
3623 Ex Parte Palestrant et al 11483147 - (D) EVANS 101 WOLF GREENFIELD & SACKS, P.C. MANSFIELD, THOMAS L
3649 Ex Parte Antoine 15607454 - (D) STAICOVICI 112(2) 112(4)/103 QuickChore Corp. MATTER, KRISTEN CLARETTE
3684 Ex Parte Chan et al 13162369 - (D) FETTING 101 IBM RALEIGH IPLAW (DL) C/0 DELIZIO LAW, PLLC ZIMMERMAN, MATTHEW E
3696 Ex Parte Foley 11668454 - (D) SHAH 103 101 CANTOR FITZGERALD, L.P. JACOB, WILLIAM J
3696 Ex Parte Brooker et al 12718556 - (D) MEDLOCK 101 BAKER BOTTS L.L.P. OJIAKU, CHIKAODINAKA
3696 Ex Parte Cunningham et al 12732915 - (D) SHAW 101 JPMorgan Chase / Goodwin Procter SEE, CAROL A
3697 Ex Parte NASSIF et al 13484569 - (D) SHAH 101 FAY KAPLUN & MARCIN, LLP NORMAN, SAMICA L
3697 Ex Parte Kiper et al 13940679 - (D) WHITEHEAD JR. 101 Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP (State Farm) OYEBISI, OJO 0
Tech Center 3700 Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Products & Design
3734 Ex Parte Villanueva et al 14526765 - (D) GUIJT 103 Ford Global Technologies, LLC/ King & Schickli, PLLC VANTERPOOL, LESTER L
3745 Ex Parte Gautschi et al 14644709 - (D) PLENZLER 103 CARLSON, GASKEY & OLDS/PRATT & WHITNEY WONG, ELTON K
3754 Ex Parte Sukup 14338609 - (D) GUIJT 103 ZARLEY LAW FIRM P.L.C. CHEYNEY, CHARLES
3791 Ex Parte Bourlion et al 10589314 - (D) PESLAK 103/OTDP IP GROUP OF DLA PIPER LLP (US) NGUYEN, HUONG Q
3792 Ex Parte Liu et al 13366256 - (D) PLENZLER 103 Slayden Grubert Beard PLLC JENNESS, NATHAN JAY
3792 Ex Parte Somogyi et al 14161544 - (D) CAPP 102/103 PACESETTER, INC. GRAND, JENNIFER LEIGH-STEW AR
3793 Ex Parte Greenleaf et al 14001604 - (D) CALVE 112(1)/102/103 101/102/103 QUARLES & BRADYLLP LAURITZEN, AMANDA L
3794 Ex Parte Ineson 14424756 - (D) HOELTER 103 Covidien LP COLLINS, SEAN W
