Ex parte KORINEK - Page 2




          Appeal No. 1998-0861                                                        
          Application No. 08/542,231                                                  

          thereby join ends of electrical wires to a predefined torque                
          level.  The polygonal-shaped elements deform upon application               
          of a torque greater than the predefined torque level in order               
          to prevent excessive torque from damaging the electrical wires              
          and the connector.                                                          
               Claim 1 is illustrative of the claimed invention, and it               
          reads as follows:                                                           
               1. A twist-on connector for joining ends of electrical                 
          wires to a predefined torque level, wherein the connector                   
          comprises a hollow body having an open end, a closed end, and               
          an outer surface extending between the open end and the closed              
          end, the outer surface having elements which form an external               
          polygonal shape for engagement by a tool to effect rotation of              
          the hollow body, wherein the elements deform upon application               
          of greater than the predefined torque level in order to                     
          prevent excessive torque from damaging either or both of the                
          electrical wires and the connector.                                         
               The references relied on by the examiner are:                          
          Swanson                  4,288,657                     Sep.  8,             
          1981                                                                        
          Williamson               5,148,727                     Sep. 22,             
          1992                                                                        
          Blaha                    Des. 315,139             Mar.  5, 1991             
               Claims 1 through 6 and 9 through 19 stand rejected under               
          35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Swanson in view               
          of Williamson.                                                              




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