Appeal No. 1997-1314
Application No. 08/300,684
Appellants argue that Fukuzawa’s element 31 is a
metallic support member, thus rib members 31e are not present
on the body portion of the spring but on a support member
(answer-page 6). We note that element 31 contains several
“portions”. As noted supra, 31d depicts the body portion, and
it is clearly
illustrated in Figure 9 that rib members 31e are “present”
thereon.
Appellants argue that even if rib members 31e are
viewed as being on body portion 31d, the rib members 31e are
also on the apertured portion, which is not provided in the
claims (answer-page 6). We agree, ribs are not provided in
the claims for the apertured portion. However, this is not
fatal to the Examiner’s rejection since ribs are also not
excluded from being on the apertured portion by the claims.
Appellants further argue that ribs 31e of Fukuzawa
are not present on the surface of the body portion 31d, but
are only edges thereof (answer-page 6). We find no such
distinction recited in claim 7. Claim 7 recites “...support
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