Appeal 97-1906
Application 08/163,084
2. The examiner rejected claims 1-7 as being
unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 103 over Yee, U.S. Patent
4,627,212 (1986).
3. Yee describes a structural element [Fig. 1,
item 10] comprising a substantially tubular rigid member [Fig.
2, item 12] containing a ridged inner surface [Fig. 2, item
30; Fig. 3, items 56, 58, 60].
4. Thus, a difference between the subject matter of
claim 1 and Yee is that claim 1 requires "a ridged outer
surface" whereas Yee describes "annular ridges 30 which are
all of equal height or radial dimensions from the internal
surfaces [of tubular rigid member 12]" (col. 3, lines 43-45)
(emphasis added).
5. The examiner acknowledges that Yee does not
describe a ridged outer surface (Examiner's Answer, page 3).
6. In addressing the difference between claim 1 and
Yee, the examiner notes (Examiner's Answer, page 3):
Yee does not disclose a tubular member having a ridged
outer surface. Yee does disclose that the inner surface
of the tubular member has ridges (see col. 4, lines 5-9)
to obtain a wedging action and compression forces. Yee
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