Appeal No. 1996-1300
Application No. 08/076,722
positions. These are the only positions described by Fukumoto
for lever 30. Fukumoto's lever 30 is free to rotate about
axis 31 and there is no description of locking lever 30
against rotation about axis 31 to prevent movement from one
position to the other.
In contrast, appellants' claim 7 describes the locking
actuator system "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." This limitation is not described by, nor inherent
in, Fukumoto. We disagree with the examiner's position that
the Fukumoto mechanism "holds" the locking lever 30 in the
locking position when the mechanism has been moved to the idle
position. In the idle position the locking lever 30 is not
held, or seized, in place, but remains free to move between
the same positions as when the mechanism is moved to the other
(non-idle) position.
We find that Fukumoto discloses a lock system having an
electric motor, worm, worm gear, link 5 and locking lever 30
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