Appeal No. 1999-2259
Application 08/711,614
surface, . . .,[and] Slicer et al. teaches the use of a form
having a generally flat surface for reinforcing a busway
housing against surge loads.” Examiner’s Answer at page 8.
Therefore, Examiner concludes, “In combination, Rinderer and
Slicer et al. teach the disclosed surge clamp as claimed.”
Examiner’s Answer at page 8.
We have already established, supra, that Rinderer does
not teach or suggest a surge clamp. However, Slicer teaches a
surge clamp at column 3, lines 59-62: “. . . a generally U-
shaped surge clamp 98 which has opposite mounting tabs through
which a fastener may connect the clamp 98 to the opposite
rails.” Slicer also teaches busway housing. Slicer’s Figures
2 and 5 illustrate busway housing. Additionally, in Slicer,
column 3, line 15-16 discloses, “The ground bus 42, together
with the pair of opposite side rails 38 form a housing for the
main phase bus bars.” However, Slicer does not teach or
suggest a surge clamp of “an extruded form being cutable to a
length.” Moreover, Slicer contains no “reason, suggestion or
motivation” whereby a person of ordinary skill in the field of
surge clamps would seek to combine the teaching of Slicer with
14
Page: Previous 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007