Appeal No. 2000-1654
Application 09/097,860
Figure 6) which serve to optimize the load carrying capacity of
the culvert.
Gurtner discloses a similar culvert structure 10 composed of
a corrugated metal arch and a plurality of corrugated metal
reinforcing ribs secured to the arch to define transversely
extending cavities.
It is not disputed that the culvert disclosed by either
Wilson or Gurtner responds to all of the limitations in claim 1
except for those pertaining to the concrete fillings and the
shear bond connectors. The examiner’s reliance on Sivachenko and
Sattler to cure these shortcomings is well founded.
Sivachenko discloses a corrugated steel plate structure
designed for use in a variety of applications including box
culverts. As described by Sivachenko with reference to Figure 7,
to increase the strength and rigidity of the plate, two
[corrugated] plates 2 can be secured to each other to
form a double plate 24 by aligning respective peaks and
troughs 6, 8 and intermittently securing the aligned
peaks and troughs to each other with bolts 26, rivets
or welds (not shown). Interior spaces 28 can be filled
with concrete 30 and for that purpose the upper
corrugated plate may be provided with a plurality of
spaced-apart concrete filling holes 32 through which
the fresh concrete can be introduced into the interior
spaces [column 7, lines 55 through 64].
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