Appeal No. 96-1830
Application 08/101,668
in Figure 3 and described by Votel,
[a] belt 50, having a buckle 51 operatively
connected thereto, is attached to the waistband 11.
Four straps 51, 52, 53 and 54 have their first ends
operatively connected, such as by stitching, to the
waistband 11. Their second ends have a loop through
which belt 50 may pass and be supported thereby. On
the belt 50 may be hung a variety of carriers or
attachments. For instance, a simple strap 55 may
have a first loop 55a through which the belt 50 may
be passed and a second loop 55b through which a tool
may be hung. Similarly, a pouch 56 may have two
straps 57 and 58 attached thereto. The straps 57
and 58 have a loop through which the belt 50 may be
passed. The pouch 56 may then be utilized to place
various piece[s] of equipment or items to be used by
the wearer. The belt 50 may be specifically
designed for the support 10, or may be any belt,
such as a miner’s belt, which may have a variety of
well-known constructions [column 5, lines 19 through
36].
Claims 1 and 23, the two independent claims on appeal,
respectively recite a brace (claim 1) and the combination of a
brace and a pant’s belt (claim 23) wherein the brace forms a
support belt having an inward facing surface. Both claims
require, inter alia, position maintaining means comprising
loops located on the inward facing surface of the support belt
for receiving the pant’s belt. In response to the appellants’
argument that “Votel includes no loops located on the belt
inward facing surface” (main brief, Paper No. 18, pages 10 and
-5-
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Last modified: November 3, 2007