Appendix II — K — Decisions Cited — K
Ninth Edition, Revision 01.2024
[ Editor Note: Opinions of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board or its predecessor organizations (Board) made available to the public after the Board first published Standard Operating Procedure 2 in 1994 (addressing the publication of Board opinions and the designation of such opinions as precedential) that (1) expressly indicate that the opinion is binding precedent of the Board or (2) are identified as binding precedent on the Board’s Precedential opinion website ( www.uspto.gov/patents-application-process/appealing -patent-decisions/decisions-and-opinions/precedential ) are precedential and binding authority. Prior to 1994, a decision by the Board was considered binding on panels of the Board only if the opinion was authorized by the Board to be published. See Ex parte Holt, 19 USPQ2d 1211 (Bd.Pat. App. & Int. 1991).]
Editor Note: When possible, parallel citations to the United States Reports or Federal Reporter and the United States Patent Quarterly (USPQ) are provided and include pinpoint pages, if appropriate. However, decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit published after July 11, 2022, no longer contain a pinpoint page for the USPQ citations.
K-2 Corp. v. Salomon S.A., 191 F.3d 1356, 52 USPQ2d 1001 (Fed. Cir. 1999) 2144.05 , 2173.05(g)
K-Swiss Inc. v. Glide N Lock GmbH, 567 Fed. App'x. 906 (Fed. Cir. 2014) 2144.05
Kaghan, In re, 387 F.2d 398, 156 USPQ 130 (CCPA 1967) 2190
Kahn, In re, 202 USPQ 772 (Comm’r Pat. 1979) 2012.01
Kahn, In re, 441 F.3d 977, 78 USPQ2d 1329 (Fed. Cir. 2006) 2141 , 2142 , 2143 , 2143.01 , 2144
Kaiser Industries Corp. v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., 515 F.2d 964, 185 USPQ 343 (3d Cir. 1975) 2012.01
KangaROOS U.S.A., Inc. v. Caldor, Inc., 778 F.2d. 1571, 228 USPQ 32 (Fed. Cir. 1985) 1504.20 , 2004
Kanter, In re, 399 F.2d 249, 158 USPQ 331 (CCPA 1968) 2116.01
Kao, In re, 639 F.3d 1057, 98 USPQ2d 1799 (Fed. Cir. 2011) 716.01(b) , 717.01(b)(1) , 2111.05 , 2112.01 , 2145 , 2153.02
Kaplan, In re, 789 F.2d 1574, 229 USPQ 678 (Fed. Cir. 1986) 804
Kaslow, In re, 707 F.2d 1366, 217 USPQ 1089 (Fed. Cir. 1983) 2141.02 , 2161.01 , 2163.02
Kathawala, In re, 9 F.3d 942, 28 USPQ2d 1785 (Fed. Cir. 1993) 2126 , 2126.02 , 2135.01
Kattwinkle, Ex parte, 12 USPQ 11 (Bd. App. 1931) 608.01(v)
Katz, In re, 467 F.2d 939, 167 USPQ 487 (CCPA 1970) 2190
Katz, In re, 687 F.2d 450, 215 USPQ 14 (CCPA 1982) 715.01(c) , 716.10 , 717.01(a)(1) , 804 , 2132 , 2132.01 , 2133 , 2136.05 , 2137 , 2138.02 , 2155.01
Katz Interactive Call Processing Patent Litigation, In re, 639 F.3d 1303, 97 USPQ2d 1737 (Fed. Cir. 2011) 2163 , 2173.05(p) , 2181
Kaufman Co. v. Lantech, Inc., 807 F.2d 970, 1 USPQ2d 1202 (Fed. Cir. 1986) 2293
Kawai v. Metlesics, 480 F.2d 880, 178 USPQ 158 (CCPA 1973) 2107.02 , 2138 , 2138.05 , 2163.03
Keil, In re, 808 F.2d 830, 1 USPQ2d 1427 (Fed. Cir. 1987) 1449.02
Keizer v. Bradley, 270 F.2d 396, 123 USPQ 215 (CCPA 1959) 2138.06
Keller, In re, 642 F.2d 413, 208 USPQ 871 (CCPA 1981) 707.07(f) , 2145
Kelly, In re, 200 USPQ 560 (Comm’r Pat. 1978) 1504.05
Kelly, In re, 305 F.2d 909, 134 USPQ 397 (CCPA 1962) 2173.05(o)
Kemco Sales Inc. v. Control Papers Co., 208 F.3d 1352, 54 USPQ2d 1308 (Fed. Cir. 2000) 2183 , 2184
Kemps, In re, 97 F.3d 1427, 40 USPQ2d 1309 (Fed. Cir. 1996) 2144.08
Kendall v. Searles, 173 F.2d 986, 81 USPQ 363 (CCPA 1949) 2138.06
Kennametal , Inc. v. Ingersoll Cutting Tool Co., 780 F.3d 1376, 114 USPQ2d 1250 (Fed. Cir. 2015) 2131.02
Kennecott Corp. v. Kyocera Int’l, Inc., 835 F.2d 1419, 5 USPQ2d 1194 (Fed. Cir. 1987) 2163 , 2163.07(a)
Kerkhoven, In re, 626 F.2d 846, 205 USPQ 1069 (CCPA 1980) 2144.06
Key Mfg. Group Inc. v. Microdot, Inc., 679 F. Supp. 648, 4 USPQ2d 1687 (E.D. Mich. 1987) 2293
Keyes, Ex parte, 214 USPQ 579 (Bd. App. 1982) 716.01(c)
Keystone Driller Co. v. Gen’l Excavator Co., 290 U.S. 240, 19 USPQ 228 (1933) 2012
KeyStone Retaining Wall Systems Inc. v. Westrock Inc., 997 F.2d 1444, 27 USPQ2d 1297 (Fed. Cir. 1993) 1504.05
Khusid, Ex parte, 174 USPQ 59 (Bd. App. 1971) 2173.05(c)
Kilbey v. Thiele, 199 USPQ 290 (Bd. Pat. Inter. 1978) 2137
Kim v. Quigg, 718 F. Supp. 1280, 12 USPQ2d 1604 (E.D. Va. 1989) 711.03(c)
Kimbell, Ex parte, 226 USPQ 688 (Bd. Pat. App. & Inter. 1985) 2258
Kimberly-Clark v. Johnson & Johnson, 745 F.2d 1437, 223 USPQ 603 (Fed. Cir. 1984) 2138
Kimberly-Clark Corp. v. Procter & Gamble Distrib. Co., 973 F.2d 911, 23 USPQ2d 1921 (Fed. Cir. 1992) 602.09 , 2109.01
Kimura, Ex parte, 55 USPQ2d 1537 (Bd. Pat. App. & Inter. 2000) 2308.03
King, In re, 107 F.2d 618, 43 USPQ 400 (CCPA 1939) 2106.04(c)
King, In re, 801 F.2d 1324, 231 USPQ 136 (Fed. Cir.1986) 2112.02 , 2131.01
King Instrument Corp. v. Otari Corp., 767 F.2d 853, 226 USPQ 402 (Fed. Cir. 1985) 2133.03(a) , 2138.05
King Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Eon Labs Inc., 616 F.3d 1267, 95 USPQ2d 1833 (Fed. Cir. 2010) 2111.05 , 2112.01
Kirk, In re, 376 F.2d 936, 153 USPQ 48 (CCPA 1967) 2107.01 , 2107.02
Kirsch, In re, 498 F.2d 1389, 182 USPQ 286 (CCPA 1974) 2173.05(c)
Kistler v. Weber, 412 F.2d 280, 162 USPQ 214 (CCPA 1969) 2305
Klein, In re, 647 F.3d 1343, 98 USPQ2d 1991 (Fed. Cir. 2011) 2141.01(a)
Klesper, In re, 397 F.2d 882, 158 USPQ 256 (CCPA 1968) 2136.02
Klopfenstein, In re, 380 F.3d 1345, 72 USPQ2d 1117 (Fed. Cir. 2004) 2128.01 , 2152.02(e)
Kluis, Ex parte, 70 USPQ 165 (Bd. App. 1945) 1604
Klumb, Ex parte, 159 USPQ 694 (Bd. App. 1967) 2175 , 2181
Knapp v. Anderson, 477 F.2d 588, 177 USPQ 688 (CCPA 1973) 2107.01
Knapp Monarch Co., In re, 296 F.2d 230, 132 USPQ 6 (CCPA 1961) 2144.03
Knell v. Muller, 174 USPQ 460 (Comm’r Pat. 1971) 804.02
Knight, In re, 217 USPQ 294 (Comm’r Pat. 1982) 2225 , 2258
Knohl, In re, 386 F.2d 476, 155 USPQ 586 (CCPA 1967) 804.02
Knowlton, In re, 481 F.2d 1357, 178 USPQ 486 (CCPA 1973) 2164.06(c) , 2181 , 2185
Knowlton, In re, 500 F.2d 266, 183 USPQ 33 (CCPA 1974) 2164.06(c)
Kochan, Ex parte, 131 USPQ 204 (Bd. App. 1961) 2173.05(n)
Kohler, Ex parte, 1905 C.D. 192, 116 O.G. 1185 (Comm’r Pat. 1905) 1503.02 , 1504.04
Kollar, In re, 286 F.3d 1326, 62 USPQ2d 1425 (Fed. Cir. 2002) 2133.03(b) , 2133.03(c)
Koller, In re, 613 F.2d 819, 204 USPQ 702 (CCPA 1980) 2124 , 2163
Kollman, In re, 595 F.2d 48, 201 USPQ 193 (CCPA 1979) 716.02(d)
Kondo v. Martel, 220 USPQ 47 (Bd. Pat. Inter. 1983) 2138.02
Kotzab, In re, 217 F.3d 1365, 55 USPQ2d 1313 (Fed. Cir. 2000) 2144
Krahn v. Commissioner, 15 USPQ2d 1823 (E.D. Va. 1990) 711.03(c)
Krammes, In re, 314 F.2d 813, 137 USPQ 60 (CCPA 1963) 1207.03 , 1207.03(a)
Krepelka, Ex parte, 231 USPQ 746 (Bd. Pat. App. & Inter. 1986) 2107.03
Krimmel, In re, 292 F.2d 948, 130 USPQ 215 (CCPA 1961) 2107.02 , 2107.03
Kristensen, Ex parte, 10 USPQ2d 1701 (Bd. Pat. App. & Inter. 1989) 2173.05(b) , 2173.05(o)
Kroekel, In re, 504 F.2d 1143, 183 USPQ 610 (CCPA 1974) 2173.05(c)
Kroekel, In re, 803 F.2d 705, 231 USPQ 640 (Fed. Cir. 1986) 715
Kroger, Ex parte, 219 USPQ 370 (Bd. App. 1982) 716.10 , 717.01(a)(1) , 2132.01 , 2155.01
Kronig, In re, 539 F.2d 1300, 190 USPQ 425 (CCPA 1976) 1207.03 , 1207.03(a)
Kropa v. Robie, 187 F.2d 150, 88 USPQ 478 (CCPA 1951) 2111.02
KSR International Co. v. Teleflex Inc., 550 U.S. 398, 82 USPQ2d 1385 (2007) 2114 , 2141 , 2141.01(a) , 2141.03 , 2142 , 2143 , 2143.01 , 2143.03 , 2144 , 2144.05 , 2144.08 , 2145 , 2216 , 2242 , 2286 , 2816.02
Kubin, In re, 561 F.3d 1351, 90 USPQ2d 1417 (Fed. Cir. 2009) 2143 , 2145
Kubin, Ex parte, 83 USPQ2d 1410 (Bd. Pat. App. & Int. 2007) 2143 , 2143.01
Kuehl, In re, 425 F.2d 658, 177 USPQ 250 (CCPA 1973) 2116.01
Kuhle, In re, 526 F.2d 553, 188 USPQ 7 (CCPA 1975) 2144.04
Kuklo, Ex parte, 25 USPQ2d 1387 (Bd. Pat. App. & Inter. 1992) 2133.03(a)
Kumar, In re, 418 F.3d 1361, 76 USPQ2d 1048 (Fed. Cir. 2005) 1207.03(a)
Kulling, In re, 897 F.2d 1147, 14 USPQ2d 1056 (Fed. Cir. 1990) 2144.05 , 2144.08 , 2145
Kusko, Ex parte, 215 USPQ 972 (Bd. App. 1981) 2137 , 2138.01
Kyocera Wireless Corp. v. Int’l Trade Comm’n, 545 F.3d 1340, 89 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 2008) 2128
Cited authority
- 2144.05 Obviousness of Similar and Overlapping Ranges, Amounts, and Proportions
- 2173.05(g) Functional Limitations
- 2190 Prosecution Laches and Res Judicata
- 2012.01 Collateral Estoppel
- 2141 Examination Guidelines for Determining Obviousness Under 35 U.S.C. 103
- 2142 Legal Concept of Prima Facie Obviousness
- 2143 Examples of Basic Requirements of a Prima Facie Case of Obviousness
- 2143.01 Suggestion or Motivation To Modify the References
- 2144 Supporting a Rejection Under 35 U.S.C. 103
- 1504.20 Benefit Under 35 U.S.C. 120
- 2004 Aids to Compliance With Duty of Disclosure
- 2116.01 Novel, Nonobvious Starting Material or End Product
- 716.01(b) Nexus Requirement and Evidence of Nonobviousness
- 717.01(b)(1) Evaluation of Declarations or Affidavits under 37 CFR 1.130(b)
- 2111.05 Functional and Nonfunctional Descriptive Material
- 2112.01 Composition, Product, and Apparatus Claims
- 2145 Consideration of Applicant’s Rebuttal Arguments and Evidence
- 2153.02 Prior Art Exception Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(B) to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) (Inventor-Originated Prior Public Disclosure Exception)
- 804 Definition of Double Patenting
- 2141.02 Differences Between Prior Art and Claimed Invention
- 2161.01 Computer Programming, Computer Implemented Inventions, and 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, First Paragraph
- 2163.02 Standard for Determining Compliance With the Written Description Requirement
- 2126 Availability of a Document as a “Patent” for Purposes of Rejection Under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a), (b), and (d)
- 2126.02 Scope of Reference’s Disclosure Which Can Be Used to Reject Claims When the Reference Is a “Patent” but Not a “Publication”
- 2135.01 The Four Requirements of Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(d)
- 608.01(v) Marks Used in Commerce and Trade Names
- 715.01(c) Reference Is Publication of Inventor’s Own Invention
- 716.10 Attribution Affidavit or Declaration to Overcome Rejection Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 or 103
- 717.01(a)(1) Evaluation of Declarations or Affidavits under 37 CFR 1.130(a)
- 2132 Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)
- 2132.01 Overcoming a Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a) Rejection based on a Printed Publication or Patent
- 2133 Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)
- 2136.05 Overcoming a Rejection Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(e)
- 2137 Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(f)
- 2138.02 “The Invention Was Made in This Country”
- 2155.01 Showing That the Disclosure Was Made by the Inventor or a Joint Inventor
- 2163 Guidelines for the Examination of Patent Applications Under the 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, first paragraph, “Written Description” Requirement
- 2173.05(p) Claim Directed to Product-By- Process or Product and Process
- 2181 Identifying and Interpreting a 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, Sixth Paragraph Limitation
- 2293 Intervening Rights
- 2107.02 Procedural Considerations Related to Rejections for Lack of Utility
- 2138 Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(g)
- 2138.05 “Reduction to Practice”
- 2163.03 Typical Circumstances Where Adequate Written Description Issue Arises
- 1449.02 Interference in Reissue
- 2138.06 “Reasonable Diligence”
- 707.07(f) Answer All Material Traversed
- 1504.05 Restriction
- 2173.05(o) Double Inclusion
- 2183 Making a Prima Facie Case of Equivalence
- 2184 Determining Whether an Applicant Has Met the Burden of Proving Nonequivalence After a Prima Facie Case Is Made
- 2144.08 Obviousness of Species When Prior Art Teaches Genus
- 2131.02 Genus-Species Situations
- 2163.07(a) Inherent Function, Theory, or Advantage
- 2144.06 Art Recognized Equivalence for the Same Purpose
- 716.01(c) Probative Value of Objective Evidence
- 2012 Reissue Applications Involving Issues of Fraud, Inequitable Conduct, and/or Violation of Duty of Disclosure
- 2173.05(c) Numerical Ranges and Amounts Limitations
- 711.03(c) Petitions Relating to Abandonment
- 2258 Scope of Ex Parte Reexamination
- 602.09 Joint Inventors
- 2109 Inventorship
- 2308.03 Estoppel Within the Office
- 2106.04(c) The Markedly Different Characteristics Analysis
- 2112.02 Process Claims
- 2131.01 Multiple Reference 35 U.S.C. 102 Rejections
- 2133.03(a) “Public Use”
- 2107.01 General Principles Governing Utility Rejections
- 2305 Requiring a Priority Showing
- 2141.01(a) Analogous and Nonanalogous Art
- 2136.02 Content of the Prior Art Available Against the Claims
- 2128.01 Level of Public Accessibility Required
- 2152.02(e) Otherwise Available to the Public
- 1604 Applicant, Oath or Declaration
- 2175 Form Paragraphs for Use in Rejections Under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, Second Paragraph
- 2144.03 Reliance on Common Knowledge in the Art or “Well Known” Prior Art
- 804.02 Avoiding a Double Patenting Rejection
- 2225 Untimely Paper Filed Prior to Order under 35 U.S.C. 304
- 2164.06(c) Examples of Enablement Issues – Computer Programming Cases
- 2185 Related Issues Under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or (b) and Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, First or Second Paragraphs
- 2173.05(n) Multiplicity
- 1503.02 Drawing
- 1504.04 Considerations Under 35 U.S.C. 112
- 2133.03(b) “On Sale”
- 2133.03(c) The “Invention”
- 2124 Exception to the Rule That the Reference Must be Prior Art
- 716.02(d) Unexpected Results Commensurate in Scope With Claimed Invention
- 1207.03 New Ground of Rejection in Examiner’s Answer
- 1207.03(a) Determining Whether a Ground of Rejection is New
- 2107.03 Special Considerations for Asserted Therapeutic or Pharmacological Utilities
- 2173.05(b) Relative Terminology
- 715 Swearing Behind a Reference — Affidavit or Declaration Under 37 CFR 1.131(a)
- 2111.02 Effect of Preamble
- 2114 Apparatus and Article Claims — Functional Language
- 2141.03 Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art
- 2143.03 All Claim Limitations Must Be Considered
- 2216 Substantial New Question of Patentability
- 2242 Criteria for Deciding Request Filed under 35 U.S.C. 302
- 2286 Ex Parte Reexamination and Litigation Proceedings
- 2816.02 Criteria for Making the Determination
- 2144.04 Legal Precedent as Source of Supporting Rationale
- 2138.01 Interference Practice
- 2128 “Printed Publications” as Prior Art