Appeal No. 1997-3087
Application 08/541,519
Appellant’s invention pertains to an over-center toggle
latch of the type where a door can be held closed by a
predetermined, specific force, and in particular to an over-
center toggle latch that incorporates an electronic switch
that provides an electronic signal indicating whether the door
to which the latch is attached is in an opened or closed
position. Independent claim 1, a copy of which appears in an
appendix to appellant’s brief, is illustrative of the appealed
subject matter.2
The prior art references relied upon by the examiner in
support of the rejection are:
Guth 3,841,677 Oct. 15,
1974
Bisbing 4,687,237 Aug. 18, 1987
Claims 1, 2, 4 and 5 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103
as being unpatentable over Bisbing in view of Guth.
Considering first independent claim 1, the broadest claim
on appeal, there is no dispute that Bisbing discloses an over-
2Consistent with appellant’s specification, the term “said
first guide member” appearing in claim 4, paragraph (e),
should apparently be --said second guide member--. When
queried on this point at oral hearing, counsel for appellant
agreed. Accordingly, for purposes of this appeal, claim 4 is
so interpreted.
2
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