Ex parte WOLF et al. - Page 8




          Appeal No. 1998-2831                                       Page 8           
          Application No. 08/541,013                                                  


          contact with the protrusion 26a.  A trigger 40, coupled to the              
          leaf spring member 44 is shiftable between a lock position and              
          a release position.  When the trigger 40 is in its lock                     
          position, the protective shield 26 cannot be moved from the                 
          extended position.  When the trigger 40 is in its release                   
          position, the protective shield 26 can travel to its retracted              
          position.  When the protective shield 26 moves to its                       
          retracted position, the protective shield 26 disengages the                 
          trigger 40 so that when the protective shield 26 returns to                 
          its extended position, it locks in place, even through the                  
          trigger 40 is in its release position.                                      


               Holmes teaches (column 4, line 22, to column 5, line 21)               
          that his trocar assembly operates and is used as follows:                   
               Prior to use, the trocar assembly will typically be in                 
               the assembled form shown in FIGS. 1-3 with the raised                  
               rectangular section 16d fitting into recess 50a, and with              
               the obturator and shield inserted through the opening in               
               grommet 66, cavity 70, and the lumen of trocar tube 56.                
                    The trocar shield is normally locked in its extended              
               position as shown in FIGS. 1-3 for safety purposes and                 
               for storage. In this position the piercing tip is                      
               shielded and cannot be damaged by inadvertent contact                  
               with other surfaces. In this locked position spring 28                 
               biases shield 26 forwardly with lip 26a limiting the                   
               forward travel by contact against the inner surface of                 







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