Appeal No. 97-0032
Application No. 08/095,295
normal to both the front surface of the strap and the inner wall
of the bellows compartment; and (3) enables the bellows
compartment to pivot to a horizontal position independent of the
strap orientation. None of these inform the reader of the claim
of any definite structure for the "pivot means." The provisions
of the sixth paragraph therefore apply. Serrano, 111 F.3d at
1582, 42 USPQ2d at 1541; Fonar, 107 F.3d at 1551, 41 USPQ2d at
1807; Cole, 102 F.3d at 530-31, 41 USPQ2d at 1006. Appellants'
"pivot means" is thus limited to the structure disclosed in the
specification and equivalents. Valmont, 983 F.2d at 1042, 25
USPQ2d at 1454.
B.
Looking to the specification, applicants do not provide any
textual description of the structure of the pivot means.
Applicants refer to a pivot (designated by drawing reference
numeral 25) on pages 5, and 7 - 8, but do not, in text, describe
its structure. The structure of pivot 25 is, however, shown in
Figure 4B as having two heads and a connecting shaft. I will
refer to this structure as a "rivet-type pivot." Figure 4B also
shows a washer, 26, placed between the strap and the bellows
compartment. The washer is said to reduce friction
2121
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