Appeal No. 1997-0906
Application 08/292,666
said operating handles, when said operating handles are
received within said first compartments, said inner surface
and said outer surface comprise a radial configuration." In
the Response to Argument section of the Examiner's Answer, the
Examiner states that "the combination of references provides
for the distribution of forces by abutting the operating
handles against the handle tie" (EA6), but offers no
explanation. As best we can determine, the Examiner is
referring generally to the fact that the handle ties of the
references engage the handles rather than to the actual claim
limitations.
Adamson clearly does not disclose that the inner surface
of the trough abuts an outer surface of the operating handles
since the handles extend through the trough. The protrusions
40 and 42 do touch the handle at the recesses 38; however,
this does not meet the claim limitation. Because the handle
tie is intended to "float" due to the protrusions 40 and 42
being loosely received in the recesses (col. 3, lines 65-68),
Adamson teaches away from using a handle tie that abuts the
operating handles. Further, because the handles extend
through the handle tie, Adamson does not teach an inner
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