Appeal No. 98-2163
Application No. 08/537,673
tubular boom section of an extendible crane boom,
the tubular boom section comprising a tube (1)
having an inner end and an outer end, a holder (14),
and a double acting cylinder being attachable to the
holder, the coupling comprising a first member (16),
a second member (15), and means comprising a
plurality of screws for coupling together these
members. Harsch varies from the claims by not
having the first and second members shaped as part-
spherical male and female members. Figure 3 of DE
'601 [the German publication] shows a similar screw
connection for a hydraulic cylinder with male and
female part-spherical members which permit the
members to be bolted together in various angular
alignments. It would have been obvious to one of
ordinary skill in the art to modify the hydraulic
cylinder mounting of Harsch by forming the first
member (16) as a part-spherical male member, and the
second member (15) as a part-spherical female
member, to permit the orientation of the cylinder to
assume various fixed alignments for small angular
adjustments, as taught by DE '601. [Answer, page
3.]
We will not support the examiner's position. While
Harsch teaches a coupling for use with a tubular boom section
of an extendible crane boom, Harsch's coupling (as the
examiner recognizes) comprises first and second plates 15,16
that are attached together by a plurality of screws, with no
adjustment whatsoever being provided between the plates. In
an attempt to overcome the deficiencies of Harsch, the
examiner has relied upon the German publication, contending
that it would have been obvious to provide Harsch with a
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