Appeal No. 2000-1998 Page 4
Application No. 08/828,523
until the appliance is inserted into the user’s mouth and the
post contacting a surface of the lower arch after the appliance
is inserted into the user’s mouth to cause the user’s lower jaw
to extend forward from its natural position. Likewise, claim 47
recites a method comprising inserting an upper arch having a
downwardly extending post into a user’s mouth, inserting a lower
arch into the user’s mouth, the lower arch uncoupled from the
upper arch, contacting a surface of the lower arch with the post
and causing the user’s lower jaw to extend forward from its
natural position.
Kelly discloses a dental splint comprising upper and lower
U-shaped members A, B connected by one or more pillars 13 which
are integral with the members A, B. The connecting pillars are
preferably made of malleable or pliable metal which can be bent
to change the angularity of the members A, B.
The examiner, recognizing that the lower member B is not
uncoupled4 from the upper member A, noted that Halstrom discloses
upper and lower bite blocks 28, 32 that are releasably connected
via a threaded post (stylus 46) and determined that
4 The term “couple” is defined as “to join together by fastening or by
association; link; connect” (Webster's New World Dictionary, Third College
Edition (Simon & Schuster, Inc. 1988)).
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