Appeal No. 2000-0511
Application No. 08/758,343
"adjustable to the size of the article" as required by the claim. Nevertheless, the gripping
assemblies 15, 16 and support portion 11 form a clamping member which is designed to partly
surround and grip an article having a relatively large diameter (i.e., greater than the maximum
clearance between the gripping assembly 15 and the second gripping element 34 in its operative
position) and which is adjustable, by depression of the actuating member 14, to the size of the
article, thereby meeting limitation (1) for articles of relatively large diameter. The second
gripping element 34 is movable between an extended (operative) position and a retracted
(inoperative) position independently of the gripping assemblies 15, 16 and support portion 11
and, further, is designed to abut and stabilize (by gripping) an article having a relatively small
diameter (i.e. sufficiently small to be received between the second gripping element 34 in its
operative position and the gripping assembly 15). However, the second gripping element 34 is
not capable of abutting and stabilizing an article of relatively large diameter. Conversely, the
"clamping member" formed by the gripping assemblies and support portion alone is not itself
capable of gripping an article of relatively small diameter which can be abutted and stabilized
by the second gripping element. While we appreciate that the second gripping element 34
could be considered to be part of the "clamping member," in that it is connected to the gripping
assembly 16 and helps grip the article, it cannot then also reasonably be considered to be an
anchoring member movable "independently of said clamping member" as additionally required
by claim 1.
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