Appeal No. 1996-1300
Application No. 08/076,722
(d) a worm gear, mounted in the housing, meshing with
the worm;
(e) an extending pin coupled to the worm gear, wherein
rotational movement of the motor output shaft causes
arcuate movement of the extending pin between at
least two operating positions;
(f) a link having a first end and a second end, wherein
the first end is pivotably coupled to the manual
locking lever;
(g) a slot in the second end of the link, the slot
having two slot ends connected by two parallel
sides, wherein the slot engages the extending pin
and allows limited relative substantially linear
movement of the link with respect to the pin and
wherein the combination of the slot and the pin
constrain the link to at least some linear movement
in response to arcuate movement of the extending
pin,
wherein, in at least one of the operating positions, the
combination of the link, slot, extending pin, worm gear and
worm hold the manual locking lever in the locked position so
that external force on the manual locking lever does not move
the manual locking lever from the locked position.
The examiner's rejection of claim 7 states that "Fukumoto
et al. '186 teaches all the elements of the claimed invention
including reversible motor with worm 26, worm gear 18, housing
2, rotary arm with extending pin 9 mounted exterior of the
housing, link with slot allowing some linear movement 5 and
having two operating positions (Figures 3 and 4)" (answer,
page 3).
5
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