Authorities Cited: United States Patent and Trademark Office U.S. Patent No. 6,730,333 United States Code 28 U.S.C. § 1295(a)(4)(A) 35 U.S.C. § 6(a) 35 U.S.C. § 6(b) 35 U.S.C. § 6(d) 35 U.S.C. § 103 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) Code of Federal Regulations 37 C.F.R. § 1.132 37 C.F.R. § 41.77 Supreme Court 344 U.S. 33, 35-37 370 U.S. 530, 536 501 U.S. 868, 879-895 539 U.S. 69, 78 548 U.S. 81, 89-90 Circuit Courts 57 F.3d 1573, 1580 98 F.3d 1563, 1570 100 F.3d 135, 140 150 F.3d 1362, 1367 175 F.3d 994, 998 203 F.3d 1305, 1316 365 F.3d 1054, 1062 527 F.3d 1318, 1322-1323