No. 94-1249. DECIDED February 24, 1995. Gerald E. Hespos, Casella and Hespos, New York City, argued, for appellant. With him on the brief was Anthony J. Casella. Muriel E. Crawford, Associate Sol., Arlington, VA, argued, for appellee. With him on the brief were Albin F. Drost, Acting Sol. and Richard E. Schafer, Acting Associate Sol. Appeal from the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences. Before RADER, Circuit Judge, SMITH, Senior Circuit Judge, and SCHALL, Circuit
(a) PATENT APPLICANT.-An applicant for a patent, any of whose claims has been twice rejected, may appeal from the decision of the primary examiner to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, having once paid the fee for such appeal. (b) PATENT OWNER.-A patent owner in a reexamination may appeal from the final rejection of any claim by the primary examiner to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, having once paid the fee for such appeal. 35 U.S.C. § 134 July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 801; Pub. L. 98-622
(a) (1) If an applicant is required to reply within a nonstatutory or shortened statutory time period, applicant may extend the time period for reply up to the earlier of the expiration of any maximum period set by statute or five months after the time period set for reply, if a petition for an extension of time and the fee set in § 1.17(a) are filed, unless: (i) Applicant is notified otherwise in an Office action; (ii) The reply is a reply brief submitted pursuant to § 41.41 of this title; (iii)