Appeal No. 96-0814
Application 08/066,331
The disclosed device, in pertinent part, includes a body 25
having a fixture 26 mounted thereon for rotational movement about
an axis x-x. The examiner’s criticism of the claims centers on
the frictional locking mechanism for preventing rotation of the
fixture 26 relative to the body 25. The specification describes
the operation of the locking mechanism as follows:
. . . A locking mechanism (not shown), is located
within body 25 around the horizontal shaft. Thus, this
clamp-like mechanism acts as a brake to frictionally
engage and hold the fixture in any angular position
relative to the body. More particularly, this locking
mechanism is shown as including a dogleg-shaped
intermediately-pivoted lever 31 mounted on the crank
arm. The upper marginal end portion of the lever 31 is
aligned with crank arm hole 30, and is arranged to be
selectively engaged by the distal end face of pin 23,
when pin 23 is selectively inserted into hole 30. The
other marginal end portion of lever 31 is arranged to
release the locking mechanism.
. . . . When pin 23 is inserted into hole 30, it will
engage lever 31, and disengage the locking mechanism,
thereby allowing the fixture to rotate relative to the
body. The pin in then moved through a circular arc
about axis x-x to move the fixture from the first
angular position to a second angular position.
Thereafter, the pin is withdrawn from hole 30. When
this occurs, the locking mechanism reengages to tightly
and securely hold the fixture in the new angular
position relative to the body. [specification, page 4-
5]
In the present instance, the examiner appears to have no
difficulty in understanding how the pin 23 engages the upper
marginal end portion of the dogleg-shaped lever 31 to move the
5
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007