Appeal No. 1999-1753
Application No. 08/515,815
Considering first the § 103 rejection of claim 22, the
sole independent claim on appeal, claim 22 is directed to a
side loading refuse vehicle comprising: (a) a truck body
enclosing a material receiving volume, (b) a charging hopper
having a top opening mountable forward of the truck body, (c)
a mechanized swivel mount mechanism fixed adjacent one side of
the charging hopper adapted for angular displacement in a
first generally horizontal plane, (d) a mechanized articulated
arm attached at one end to the swivel mount, the arm being
operable between stowed, extended, lift, and dumping
positions, and (e) a mechanized grabber means connected to a
free end of the articulated arm for grasping, lifting, tipping
and releasing a container, and including means to control the
angular positioning relationship between the free end of the
arm and the mechanized grabber means.
Stedman, the primary reference in each of the examiner’s
rejections, pertains to a material grasping apparatus for use
in connection with a refuse collecting and hauling vehicle.
The grasping apparatus 20 is connected to a free end of an
articulated arm 18, and manipulates the grasping apparatus so
that it may deposit refuse material into a charging hopper 16.
3
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007