Appeal No. 1998-0236
Application No. 08/472,536
bosses” by the examiner) do not extend outwardly from the
elements 35a and 37a which the examiner regards as “flanges.”
Instead, tabs 57 extend from Gieling’s arms 53, and there is
only one tab extending from each arm. In contrast, claim 10
expressly recites that two or more of the mounting bosses
(which engage the internal wall structure of the post
sections) extend outwardly from each of the connector’s
flanges. Furthermore, Gieling’s disclosure that each of the
tabs 57 fits securely in an aperture 23 (see column 4, lines
46-47) does not necessarily mean that the fit is an
interference fit. In contrast, claim 10 recites that the
mounting bosses engage the internal wall structure of the post
sections with an interference fit.
For the foregoing reasons, we will not sustain the
rejection of claim 10.
Turning now to the rejection of claim 15, the only
argument supporting patentability of this claim over the
examiner’s proposed combination of Bianco and Novitski is that
“Novitski clearly shows the tabs being formed on a base 17
which is in the same plane as the end wall of the cabinet, and
12
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