Appeal No. 97-3551
Application No. 08/342,759
inner elongated cylinder (1) is slidably received in an outer
elongated cylinder (2), which is of “slightly greater”
diameter (column 3, lines 41 and 42). Both cylinders are
closed at their lower ends by a bottom wall (5 & 10). A coil
spring (3) is interposed between the two bottom walls, biasing
them apart, with the strength of the spring being such that
when a golf club is placed inside the inner tube, it
telescopes downward within the outer one. When the golf club
is removed, the inner tube is moved upwardly by the spring,
with the extent of movement being limited by a cord (4).
Very’s second embodiment (Figures 3 and 4) utilizes only one
tube, which is slidable up and down with respect to the golf
bag divider plates. The tube is provided with an annular stop
ring (4), and a coil spring (3) is wrapped around the tube at
a point between the lower divider plate (9) and the stop ring,
biasing the tube upwardly into contact with the upper divider
plate (8) when no club is present. When a club is placed in
the tube, it moves downwardly.
The examiner’s position is that these two teachings would
have suggested to one of ordinary skill in the art that the
spring and cord interposed between the two bottom walls in the
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