Appeal No. 97-4240
Application 08/294,074
With specific regard to Quinlan the answer states that:
Quinlan, Jr. et al. shows panel 12 within [a]
channel of utility post 21. Compressible connectors
such as at 14/16 are utilized to hold the panel in
place. [Page 5.]
Figs. 4 and 5 of Quinlan show panels 12 first being inserted
into channels and thereafter secured to posts 21 by connecting or
securing elements 16. To this end, Quinlan provides an edge rail
14 having slots 15 on each end of the panels and further provides
grooves 39 in the bottom of the channels in the posts. The
connecting elements 16 are described as including
a pair of vertically elongate hinge plate[s] 17 joined
along one edge by a hinge 18 (namely a plastic or
“living” hinge), and each hinge plate 17 has a
generally L or T-shaped part 19 projecting outwardly
from one side thereof. [Column 3, lines 1-5.]
In order to secure an end of one of the panels in a channel in a
post, one part 19 of the connecting element 16 is inserted to a
slot 15 on the edge rail 14 while the other part 19 of the
connecting element is inserted into a groove 39 in the bottom of
the channel. Even if the examiner is correct in asserting that
the living hinge-type connecting element 16 of Quinlan is
“compressible” (at least to some degree), there is absolutely
nothing in Quinlan which either teaches or fairly suggests that
this connecting element is “laterally movable” to the extent
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Last modified: November 3, 2007