Ex Parte HolnessDownload PDFPatent Trial and Appeal BoardJun 10, 201411204754 (P.T.A.B. Jun. 10, 2014) Copy Citation UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARKOFFICE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE United States Patent and Trademark Office Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450 www.uspto.gov APPLICATION NO. FILING DATE FIRST NAMED INVENTOR ATTORNEY DOCKET NO. CONFIRMATION NO. 11/204,754 08/15/2005 Wilfred Washington Holness WH101US 1653 7590 06/11/2014 Wilfred Holness Suite 4A 4400 Wickham Avenue Bronx, NY 10466 EXAMINER JALALZADEH ABYAN, SHILA ART UNIT PAPER NUMBER 3764 MAIL DATE DELIVERY MODE 06/11/2014 PAPER Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding. The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication. PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07) UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE ____________________ BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD ____________________ Ex parte WILFRED WASHINGTON HOLNESS ____________________ Appeal 2012-001175 Application 11/204,754 Technology Center 3600 ____________________ Before JENNIFER D. BAHR, LYNNE H. BROWNE, and LISA M. GUIJT, Administrative Patent Judges. GUIJT, Administrative Patent Judge. DECISION ON APPEAL Appeal 2012-001175 Application 11/204,754 2 STATEMENT OF THE CASE Wilfred Washington Holness (Appellant) seeks our review under 35 U.S.C. § 134(a) of the final rejection of claims 1-38, which are all of the claims pending in the application. We have jurisdiction under 35 U.S.C. § 6(b). We AFFIRM-IN-PART. CLAIMED SUBJECT MATTER The claims are directed to an apparatus, method, and kit for an exercise machine that can, among other limitations, inhibit, for an amount of time, further movement of a movable surface, when moved by a user. Claims 1, 36 and 37 are independent. Claim 36 is reproduced below. 36. A method of using a resistance exercise machine comprising: a) contacting a movable surface on the machine which is linked to a resistance source with a body part; b) applying a force to the movable surface through the body part as to cause the movable surface to move in a direction opposite the force created by the resistance source; c) inhibiting for an amount of time the movement of the movable surface after a distance has been traveled by the movable surface in the direction caused by the force created by the body part; d) removing the inhibition of movement of the movable surface after the amount of time; and e) moving the movable surface pass the distance that has been traveled. PRIOR ART Voris US 4,765,613 Aug. 23, 1988 Boyd US 5,195,746 Mar. 23, 1993 Whipps US 5,556,362 Sep. 17, 1996 Moser US 6,234,939 B1 May 22, 2001 Appeal 2012-001175 Application 11/204,754 3 Burrell US 7,160,042 B2 Jan. 9, 2007 Rexach US 2002/0091043 A1 Jul. 11, 2002 Capuano US 2003/0211916 A1 Nov. 13, 2003 Cordova US 2005/0239602 A1 Oct. 27, 2005 Schneider US 2006/0094570 A1 May 4, 2006 REJECTIONS Appellant requests review of the following rejections: A. Claim 36 stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(e) as being anticipated by Cordova; B. Claims 1-5, 25, 28-32, 35, 37, and 38 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as being anticipated by Voris; C. Claims 24, 26, 27, and 33 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Voris and Schneider; D. Claims 6, 9, 12, and 18 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Voris and Burrell; E. Claims 7, 10, 13, and 19 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Voris and Moser; F. Claims 8, 11, 14, and 20 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Voris and Capuano; G. Claims 15 and 21 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Voris, Burrell and Whipps; H. Claims 16 and 22 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Voris, Moser, and Whipps; I. Claims 17 and 23 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Voris, Capuano and Whipps; and J. Claims 31 and 34 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Voris and Rexach. Appeal 2012-001175 Application 11/204,754 4 OPINION A. Claim 36 – Anticipation by Cordova Appellant argues that the method of claim 36, and particularly steps (d) and (e), require “that after removing the inhibition of movement of the movable surface after an amount of time, the movable surface is moved pas[t] the distance that has been traveled by the movable surface.” Br. 20. Appellant points out that Cordova describes an exercise machine “where a movable member is moved in one direction to a limit position where the movable member is locked while the machine then reverses the direction of the movable member” and that “there are mechanisms specifically set in place to prevent any further movement past the limit point.” Br. 21, 23. Appellant concludes that “Cordova does not anticipate claim 36 since there is no contemplation of moving [the] movable member past the [limit position].” Br. 24.1 The Examiner finds that after the inhibition of movement of the movable member is removed, as required by step (d), the machine may be reprogrammed by the user to set a new upper limit, enabling the user, to move past the prior distance traveled, accomplishing step (e). Ans. 6, 18-19. Alternatively, the Examiner finds that “since no order has been specified . . . for performing the steps,” . . . “the user can move the movable member to a desired position other than the limit position first (before it gets to a limit position)[(steps (a) and (b)),] and then move the movable member pas[t] that position to the limit position[ (step e),]” at which time the movable member 1 Although Appellant also argues that “Cordova teaches away from the present invention[,]” we note that “teaching away” arguments are not relevant to anticipation rejections. Br. 19; See In re Malagari, 499 F.2d 1297, 1302 (CCPA 1974). Appeal 2012-001175 Application 11/204,754 5 is inhibited (step c), and finally the inhibition is removed, after an amount of time (step d). Ans. 19. We agree with Appellant that the Examiner has failed to establish a prima facie showing of anticipation. In particular, the Examiner has not shown that the methods of operating the Cordova exercise machine, as suggested by the Examiner above, are described in Cordova. If a prior art device, in its normal and usual operation, would necessarily perform the method claimed, then the method claimed will be considered to be unpatentable over the prior art device. In re King, 801 F.2d 1324, 1326-7 (Fed. Cir. 1986). However, in Cordova, the normal and usual operation of the exercise machine requires inhibiting any further movement of the movable surface beyond the limit position and, moreover, maximizing the applied force to prevent further movement past the limit position if the movable surface is not moved in reverse. Cordova, para. [0087]. Thus, in normal and usual operation of its apparatus, Cordova would not necessarily perform the method claimed in claim 36. Furthermore, the mere existence of an apparatus does not necessarily render unpatentable all the possible methods to which it may be adapted. Carnegie Steel Co. v. Cambria Iron Co., 185 U.S. 403, 424-5 (1902). For these reasons, Cordova does not anticipate claim 36, and we do not sustain the Examiner’s rejection. B. Claims 1-5, 25, 28-32, 35, 37 and 38 – Anticipation by Voris Appellant argues that “Voris does not teach inhibition of movement of its movable member in any direction[,]” but “only discloses a mechanism to gradually vary resistance while permitting movement of its movable member in any direction.” Br. 25. In addition, Appellant contends that Appeal 2012-001175 Application 11/204,754 6 Voris does not disclose “that the movable surface is free to move in the opposite direction of the external force.” Id. Appellant also argues that “Voris does not teach any timer” or “an interval timer.” Br. 28. Regarding claims 1 and 37, the Examiner finds that Voris discloses “that resistance is applied to the movement of the bar” and reasons that the applied resistance can inhibit movement of the bar if either the user is too weak to overcome the resistance or if the user has pushed the bar to its upper limit of movement due to the construction of the machine. Ans. 6-7, 19-21. The Examiner also finds that Voris discloses that the apparatus permits uninhibited movement of the movable surface in the opposite direction to the external force, while the mechanism inhibits movement of the movable surface in the direction caused by the external force. Ans. 6. Finally, the Examiner finds that a timer is inherently disclosed in Voris, “since the amount of time [that the movable member has stopped moving in the positive resistance direction] has to be compared with a threshold time in order to see if the user has pass[ed] that limit . . . .” Ans. 20-21. We agree with the Examiner’s finding that if the user is too weak to overcome the applied resistance, the mechanism inhibits movement of the movable surface. We note that, in addition to the disclosures in Voris cited by the Examiner (see Ans. 6-7, citing col. 4, ll. 36-46, 55-51; col. 5, ll 6-24), Voris states as follows: The present invention . . . provid[es] an exercise device which gradually applies resistance . . . to the movement of a lifting mechanism by an exerciser in at least a first positive resistance direction . . . . Further, the exercise device . . . is controlled to reduce the resistance applied in the first direction to substantially zero if the exerciser, due to fatigue, fails to continue moving the lifting mechanism in the first direction for more than a selected time period. Appeal 2012-001175 Application 11/204,754 7 Voris, col. 3, ll. 5-17 (emphasis added). As required by claims 1 and 37, movement of the movable surface is inhibited “for an amount of time,” which is described directly above as “a selected time period.” We also note that this passage from Voris confirms the Examiner’s conclusion that Voris discloses that the mechanism inhibits movement of the movable surface in a direction caused by an external force while permitting uninhibited movement of the movable surface in the opposite direction. See also Voris, col. 4, ll. 55-61 (“A device in accordance with the invention will only apply a resistance to the movement of a particular lifting mechanism in that direction which will result in the application of a positive resistance to the movement of that particular lifting mechanism . . . .”) (emphasis added). We do not agree with the Examiner’s alternative finding that the frame of the machine is a mechanism that inhibits movement of the bar, for example, in the instance when the user pushes the bar to its upper limit, because the Examiner has not provided support that Voris discloses that the mechanism does so for an amount of time, as claimed. We are not persuaded by Appellant’s argument that Voris does not disclose “the use or need of a timer” or that “[t]he reversal of the Voris mechanism, the changing of the gears, or numerous other factors are likely to be the cause of any alleged delay when [the] Voris’ device reduces the resistance over a period of time[,]”—or even that “[n]owhere is it . . . implied in Voris that a timer is determining any amount of time as in the present invention.” Br. 27. When relying on the theory of inherency, an examiner has the initial burden of providing a basis in fact and/or technical Appeal 2012-001175 Application 11/204,754 8 reasoning to reasonably support the determination that the allegedly inherent characteristic reasonably flows from the teachings of the applied prior art. See In re King, 801 F.2d 1324, 1327 (Fed. Cir. 1986). We are persuaded that the Examiner has provided sufficient facts to support that a timer must necessarily be used to determine the amount of time that the movement of the movable surface disclosed in Voris is inhibited, because Voris describes that the time period wherein the movable surface is inhibited begins when the user fails to continue moving the bar in the positive resistance direction and ends when a period of time greater than a given threshold time limit is reached. Voris, col. 5, ll. 11-24. We are also persuaded by the Examiner’s finding that gears may be considered a timer as claimed. Ans. 21. Voris further describes such an amount of time as “a selected period of time,” “a defined lapse of time,” “a pre-defined lapse of time,” “a defined period of time,” and “a prescribed period of time.” Voris, col. 3, ll. 13-17; col. 8, ll. 52-60; col. 11, ll. 31-37; claims 11, 12, 15, and 16. We agree with the Examiner’s reasoning that such an amount of time is inherently determined by a timer. For the above reasons, Appellant’s arguments do not apprise us of error in the Examiner’s rejection of claim 1. Thus, we sustain the rejection of claim 1 and of dependent claims 2-5, 25, 28, 29, 30-32, and 35, for which Appellant does not present separate arguments and which thus fall with claim 1, as being anticipated by Voris. See Br. 24; 37 C.F.R. § 41.37(c)(1)(vii) (2011). Regarding claim 37, which claims a kit, and in view of our agreement with the Examiner’s finding that Voris teaches uninhibited movement of the movable surface in the opposite direction to the external force, we further Appeal 2012-001175 Application 11/204,754 9 agree with the Examiner’s reasoning that Voris anticipates claim 37 by disclosing the same components that perform the same functions. Ans. 22. Appellant does not present a reasonably specific argument explaining how the “kit comprising parts,” as claimed in claim 37, is distinguished from the components of the machine disclosed in Voris. Regarding claim 38, in addition to the findings and reasoning above, we agree with the Examiner’s findings that Voris discloses a sensing mechanism, namely, an encoder, which determines the position of the movable surface and relays a signal to a microprocessor, which inherently includes a timer for signaling a halting effector mechanism, such as a brake, which can inhibit movement of the movable surface in one direction. Ans. 8, 22-24. Appellant has not shown error in the Examiner's determination that Voris anticipates the subject matter of claims 37 and 38. Accordingly, we sustain the Examiner’s anticipation rejection of claims 37 and 38. C. Claims 24, 26, 27, and 33 – Obviousness over Voris and Schneider Appellant argues that Schneider is not prior art because Schneider was filed on December 18, 2005, whereas the present application was filed on August 15, 2005. Br. 31. Appellant has not, however, rebutted the Examiner’s finding that the subject matter disclosed in Schneider and relied upon to reject claims 24, 26, 27, and 33 (specifically, the abstract and paragraph 38), was also disclosed in the parent application, U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/153,943, filed on May 22, 2002, which in turn was filed with the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/293,359 Appeal 2012-001175 Application 11/204,754 10 filed on May 24, 2001. Ans. 24. Therefore, we adopt the Examiner’s finding as our own. Appellant further argues that “the combination of both references cannot render the present invention obvious since neither reference possess[es] all the element[s] of the claims in dispute, such as a timer . . . .” Br. 34. This argument is not convincing, because, as discussed above, we agree with the Examiner’s finding that Voris discloses, either explicitly or inherently, a timer as called for in claim 1. Accordingly, we sustain the Examiner’s obviousness rejection of claims 24, 26, 27, and 33. D. Claims 6, 9, 12, and 18 – Obviousness over Voris and Burrell Claims 9, 12, and 18 depend directly or indirectly from claim 6, and Appellant has not asserted arguments regarding the specific limitations for a halting effector mechanism as set forth in claims 9, 12, and 18. Thus, we decide the appeal of this rejection on the basis of claim 6. 37 C.F.R. § 41.37(c)(1)(vii) (2011). Claim 6, which incorporates the limitations of claims 1-5, requires that the sensing mechanism comprises, inter alia, a snap action sensor switch. Appellant argues that “an element in all the claims rejected above is a timer, which controls the amount of time the movable surface is inhibited.” Br. 35-36. Appellant disagrees with the Examiner’s finding that a timer is inherently disclosed in Voris. Id. Appellant further argues that although Burrell mentions several sensors (including a snap action switch), “[t]hese switches and sensors are relevant to the Burrell disclosure and do not suggest . . . to combine this reference with anything of the present invention . . . .” Br. 36-37. Appeal 2012-001175 Application 11/204,754 11 The Examiner finds that “Voris teaches a position sensor” and that Burrell “teaches that different types of sensors can be used such as positions sensors and snap action sensors along with some other types of sensors (col. 4 lines 1-9) to carry out the same function.” Ans. 25. The Examiner concludes that “[i]t would have been obvious to substitute one position sensor with another sensor to provide the same predictable results.” Id. In view of our agreement with the Examiner’s findings regarding the disclosures of Voris, we also agree with the Examiner’s conclusion of obviousness, because “when a patent claims a structure already known in the prior art that is altered by mere substitution of one element for another known in the field, the combination must do more than yield a predictable result.” KSR Int’l Co. v. Teleflex, Inc., 550 U.S. 398, 416 (2007). Accordingly, we sustain the Examiner’s obviousness rejection of claims 6, 9, 12, and 18. E. Claims 7, 10, 13, and 19 – Obviousness over Voris and Moser Claims 10, 13, and 19 depend directly or indirectly from claim 7, and Appellant has not asserted arguments regarding the specific limitations for a halting effector mechanism as set forth in claims 10, 13, and 19. Thus, we decide the appeal of this rejection on the basis of claim 7. 37 C.F.R. § 41.37(c)(1)(vii) (2011). Claim 7, which incorporates the limitations of claims 1-5, requires that the sensing mechanism comprises, inter alia, an opto interrupter sensor and means to activate the sensor. The Examiner finds, inter alia, that “it is known to one [of] ordinary skill in the art that a sensor can be used in different scenarios to detect different parameters[,]” and that “the opto-interrupter of Moser can be interchangeable with the Appeal 2012-001175 Application 11/204,754 12 encoder of Voris to provide the same function.” Ans. 27. We note that the encoder in Voris interfaces with a microprocessor, which controls the amount of resistance being exerted by the brake, in response to information provided by the encoder concerning the relative position of the bar. Voris, col. 5, ll. 48-56. Appellant argues, inter alia, that “the opto sensor of [Moser] does not communicate any direction of movement unlike the encoder in Voris and therefore cannot be interchanged with Voris’ encoder.” Br. 40-42. The Appellant also argues that “there is no motivation to combine the teachings of a unipedal apparatus [of Moser] with the apparatus of Voris.” Br. 41-42. Appellant again contends that Voris does not disclose a timer, inherent or otherwise, as required by claim 1. Ans. 41. We are persuaded by the Examiner that Moser describes using optical encoder disks to provide optical data to on-board electronics for controlling resistance in an exercise machine, and it would be obvious to modify the position encoder disclosed in Voris accordingly. We note that Voris provides a reason to combine the references by suggesting that “[w]hile any suitable type of mechanism which can sense the rotational position of the [movable member] may be utilized . . . , it has been found particularly advantageous to utilize an optical encoder . . . .” Voris, col. 7, ll. 39-45. In view of our agreement with the Examiner’s findings regarding the disclosures of Voris, we also agree with the Examiner’s conclusion of obviousness. Accordingly, we sustain the Examiner’s obviousness rejection of claims 7, 10, 13, and 19. F. Claims 8, 11, 14, and 20 – Obviousness Voris and Capuano Appeal 2012-001175 Application 11/204,754 13 Claims 11, 14, and 20 depend directly or indirectly from claim 8, and Appellant has not asserted arguments regarding the specific limitations for a halting effector mechanism as set forth in claims 11, 14, and 20. Thus, we decide the appeal of this rejection on the basis of claim 8. 37 C.F.R. § 41.37(c)(1)(vii) (2011). Claim 8, which incorporates the limitations of claims 1-5, requires that the sensing mechanism comprises, inter alia, a bar code reader and a processor and means to activate the reader. The Examiner finds that “it is within [the knowledge of] one [of] ordinary skill in the art to substitute one sensor for another, [and] in this case[,] [to] substitute the encoder [disclosed in Voris] with a barcode reader [as disclosed in Capuano,] since they both can serve the same purpose and produce the same predictable result.” Ans. 28. Appellant, however, argues “that the bar code system in Capuano does not recognize a distan[ce] travelled by a movable surface and thus does not render obvious the use of a bar code system for such purpose.” Br. 45. Appellant also contends that Voris does not disclose a timer. Br. 46. We note that Capuano discloses using a bar code system specifically for the purpose of recognizing a distance traveled by a movable surface, at least indirectly, by describing “[o]ptional progression bar-code readers 22 [that] record the weights passing upwards and downwards” . . . “and [a] peak-lift bar-code reader 26 [that] ensures [a] user has completed a lift.” Capuano, p. 5, para. [0053], fig. 5. In view of our agreement with the Examiner’s findings regarding the disclosures of Voris, and the Examiner’s finding and reasoning above, we also agree with the Examiner’s conclusion of obviousness. Accordingly, we sustain the rejection of claims 8, 11, 14, and 20. Appeal 2012-001175 Application 11/204,754 14 G. Claims 15 and 21 – Obviousness over Voris, Burrell and Whipps Claim 21 depends directly from claim 15, and Appellant has not asserted arguments regarding the specific limitations for a halting effector mechanism as set forth in claim 21. Thus, we decide the appeal of this rejection on the basis of claim 15. 37 C.F.R. § 41.37(c)(1)(vii) (2011). Claim 15, which incorporates the limitations of claims 1-6, requires that the halting effector mechanism comprise a solenoid and a retractable pin. Appellant argues that “one skilled in the art would not be motivated to combine the references proposed by the Examiner since Boyd pertains to an apparatus for controlling the movement of an electronic image on a video display, Voris to a bi-directional varying resistance exercise device, and finally, Whipps pertains to the selection of weights.” Br. 50. Appellant states: “Further, . . . [this] combination lack[s] all the elements of the rejected claims such as a timer . . . .” Id. The Examiner notes that a typographical error was made in that Boyd has not been relied upon for rejecting claims 15 and 21, but rather Burrell has been applied to address the limitations of claim 6 (see above), from which claims 15 and 21 depend. The Examiner finds that “Voris teaches each and every element of claim 1[,] Burrell has only been relied upon to teach another type of sensor [namely, a snap action sensor], and Whipps has been used to teach a solenoid and a retractable pin as a halting effector mechanism.” Ans. 14, 28. Whipps discloses the use of solenoid operated pin controllers to adjust the resistance applied by an exercise machine based upon a signal representative of a user’s momentary muscle failure. Whipps, col. 2, ll 17-22. The Examiner reasons that “Voris already teaches a halting Appeal 2012-001175 Application 11/204,754 15 effector mechanism which is a brake, and it is within [the knowledge of] one [of] ordinary skill in the art to substitute one type of a halting effector mechanism/resistance device with another such as a solenoid and a pin.” Ans. 28. In view of our agreement with the Examiner’s findings regarding the disclosures of Voris, and findings and reasoning regarding the combination of Voris, Burrell and Whipps, we also agree with the Examiner’s conclusion of obviousness. Accordingly, we sustain the Examiner’s obviousness rejection of claims 15 and 21. H. Claims 16 and 22 – Obviousness over Voris, Moser, and Whipps Claim 22 depends directly from claim 16, and Appellant has not asserted arguments regarding the specific limitations for a halting effector mechanism as set forth in claim 22. Thus, we decide the appeal of this rejection on the basis of claim 16. 37 C.F.R. § 41.37(c)(1)(vii) (2011). Claim 16, which incorporates the limitations of claims 1-5 and 7, requires that the halting effector mechanism comprise a solenoid and a retractable pin. In view of our agreement with the Examiner’s conclusion of obviousness as stated with respect to claims 15 and 21 above, we also agree with the Examiner’s conclusion of obviousness with respect to claims 16 and 22. Accordingly, we sustain the Examiner’s obviousness rejection of claims 16 and 22. I. Claims 17 and 23 under 103(a) over Voris, Capuano and Whipps Appeal 2012-001175 Application 11/204,754 16 Claim 23 depends directly from claim 17, and Appellant has not asserted arguments regarding the specific limitations for a halting effector mechanism as set forth in claim 23. Thus, we decide the appeal of this rejection on the basis of claim 17. 37 C.F.R. § 41.37(c)(1)(vii) (2011). Claim 17, which incorporates the limitations of claims 1-5 and 8, requires that the halting effector mechanism comprise a solenoid and a retractable pin. In view of our agreement with the Examiner’s conclusion of obviousness as stated with respect to claims 15, 16, 21, and 22 above, we also agree with the Examiner’s conclusion of obviousness with respect to claims 17 and 23, and accordingly, sustain the Examiner’s obviousness rejection of claims 17 and 23. J. Claims 31 and 34 under 103(a) over Voris and Rexach Appellant argues that “the combination of both references cannot render the present invention obvious since neither reference possess[es] all the element[s] of the claims in dispute, such as a timer . . . .” Br. 57. Appellant further argues that “Rexach discloses an exercise apparatus with more versatility and highly compact storage[,]” but that “[i]t does not disclose the present invention.” However, Appellant does not identify any specific missing claim elements except for the timer. In view of our agreement with the Examiner’s findings regarding the disclosures of Voris, we also agree with the Examiner’s conclusion of obviousness. Accordingly, we sustain the Examiner’s obviousness rejection of claims 31 and 34. Appeal 2012-001175 Application 11/204,754 17 DECISION A. The Examiner’s decision rejecting claim 36 is reversed. B. The Examiner’s decision rejecting claims 1-5, 25, 28-32, 35, 37, and 38 is affirmed. C. The Examiner’s decision rejecting claims 24, 26, 27, and 33 is affirmed. D. The Examiner’s decision rejecting claims 6, 9, 12, and 18 is affirmed. E. The Examiner’s decision rejecting claims 7, 10, 13, and 19 is affirmed. F. The Examiner’s decision rejecting claims 8, 11, 14, and 20 is affirmed. G. The Examiner’s decision rejecting claims 15 and 21 is affirmed. H. The Examiner’s decision rejecting claims 16 and 22 is affirmed. I. The Examiner’s decision rejecting claims 17 and 23 is affirmed. J. The Examiner’s decision rejecting claims 31 and 34 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). AFFIRMED-IN-PART Klh/rvb Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation