Appeal No. 2000-1971
Application No. 09/002,537
21) for the respective positions of appellant and the examiner
regarding the merits of these rejections.
Rejection (a)
Independent claims 1, 7 and 14 are similar in that they
are each directed to a trailer hitch housing comprising a
first side have a first strengthening rib intermediate the
upper and lower edges thereof, a second side having a second
strengthening rib intermediate the upper and lower edges
thereof, and a housing cover interconnecting the first and
second sides.
Schiappati, the examiner’s primary reference, is directed
to a hitch assembly specifically designed for motor vehicles.
Schiappati’s hitch assembly comprises, in pertinent part, a
U-shaped bracket element 1 having first and second sides, and
a top member joining the sides together. There appears to be
no dispute that the U-shaped bracket element 1 of Schiappati
corresponds to the subject matter of claims 1, 7 and 14,
except for the requirement that the first and second sides
have strengthening ribs located intermediate the edges of the
respective sides.
3
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