Appeal No. 1997-0906
Application 08/292,666
Darlow discloses a metal handle tie bar for circuit
breaker handles. The handle tie bar has a channel shaped
cross section comprised of bottom 16 and opposing sides 18 and
20. The sides 18 and 20 are formed with spurs 22 which dig
into the plastic handles of the circuit breaker and resist
removal of the tie bar from the handles. The bottom of the
channel has windows 24 to show the amperage markings on the
end of the handles. We disagree with Appellants' finding that
Darlow has "apertures for receiving the circuit breaker
handles" (Br7). The windows 24 show the amperage markings,
but it appears that the ends of the handles abut the bottom 16
on the edges of the windows because figure 3 shows that the
width of the windows is less than the width of the handles and
because the edge of the sidewall is visible along the lower
edge of the window. The Examiner relies on Darlow only for
its teaching of the placement of spurs 22.
Kakisako discloses a handle tie which fits over the end
of the circuit breaker handles and having a groove 8b and
protrusions 9 which engage a connecting pin 5 which extends
through holes in the handles. The handle tie has compartments
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