Appeal No. 2001-0207
Application No. 09/151,003
comprises a bolt 27, a drawbar 25 and a spring 29 for urging
the bolt 27 into a recess in a door frame. A linkage
connector 24 couples the drawbar to the pushbar and to the
armature 82 of a remotely actuable solenoid 76.
Arguably, Cross would have suggested the addition of a
solenoid to Smith’s door retention assembly to allow it to be
remotely actuated. There is nothing in the combined teachings
of these references, however, that would have suggested
directly engaging the plunger of the solenoid and Smith’s
sliding catch or keeper as required by claims 1 and 7. The
examiner’s determination (see page 3 in the answer) that
Cross’ linkage connector 24 is a sliding catch has no basis in
fact.
There is also nothing in the combined teachings of Smith
and Cross that would have suggested forming Smith’s sliding
catch or keeper (holder plate 21 and bracket 22) in a single
member as required by claims 1 and 7. Contrary to the
position taken by the examiner (see page 7 in the answer), the
disclosed structural relationship between Smith’s keeper and
the heat fusible part 20 carried thereby (see Figure 9)
indicates that the two-part construction of the keeper is
6
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007