Appeal No. 97-0338
Application 08/229,398
shield extends laterally from one side of the hood to the other,
as shown in Fig. 2.3
The Jeep Cherokee vehicle to which the BUG-GARD deflector is
attached, as shown in the Exhibit E photographs, has a hood
somewhat like that shown in Willey's Fig. 1, in that it
terminates short of the top edge of the front of the vehicle.
The BUG-GARD is attached to the body, not the hood, and wraps
around the top leading edges of the front fenders.
The Range Rover vehicle shown in the Exhibit F photographs
has a hood which not only covers the engine but also is
integrated with the top edges of the front fenders. The BUG-GARD
is attached to the front of the hood and wraps around the corners
of the hood, which also constitute the leading edges of the front
fenders.4
3The drawings of the Willey patent seem to be somewhat
inconsistent, in that Fig. 1 shows a hood which does not extend
around the top front edge of the vehicle, while Fig. 3 shows the
front of the hood curving down to a trim piece 42 on its
lowermost portion 44, spaced above a lower panel by clearance
“C.” It is evident to us from reading the Willey disclosure that
the hood shown in Fig. 3 is the type of hood intended to be
disclosed.
4Appellant has raised a question as to whether the Range
Rover BUG-GARD constitutes prior art as to him. This question is
moot in view of our disposition of the appeal.
3
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