Appeal No. 98-2049
Application 08/549,061
13. The loop 12 defines one end of a spindle
portion 14 of the rope body 13 which is a continuous
section of rope. The other end of the spindle 14 is
defined by a repositionable adjustable keeper 15
which also defines a spinning loop 16 at the point
13a where it attaches to the second end position of
the rope body 13. The details of the keeper 15 are
shown more fully in co-pending application Ser. No.
264,186, but it generally is a two-piece member[2]
having opposed curved rope retaining portions
connected by a flange with screw fastening means
through the flange portions, holding the fastening
means together, and when tightened, it exerts
pressure on the rope to hold the rope in a fixed
relation. The free end 17 of the rope 13 is held by
a keeper 15a against the section of rope body 13
directly aligned with spindle 14 [column 1, line 68,
through column 2, line 14).
The principle issue with regard to the rejection of
claims 1 through 5, 7 and 8 is whether Schweitzer teaches, or
would have suggested, a lasso toy meeting the recitation in
independent claim 1 of means cooperating between the second
end and intermediate portion of the rope for detachably
securing same to create a noose wherein the securing means
permits the second end to release from the intermediate
portion under limited predetermined tension in the noose to
thereby prevent unsafe use of the toy. The appellant’s
2This application matured into U.S. Patent No. 3,249,356,
which is of record in the instant application.
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Last modified: November 3, 2007