Appeal No. 2002-0283
Application 09/328,918
As noted on page 4 of the specification, appellant’s
invention relates to a method and apparatus for
controlling the distribution of vibrational
energy throughout a structure, a structural component, or a
machine, hereafter referred to as the “system”. The method,
known as vibration control by confinement (VCC), includes
selecting a confinement region in a vibrating member in
which the vibrational energy is to be confined. A device
for confining the vibrational energy is positioned on the
vibrating member at a determined position. The vibration
confinement device has effective translational stiffnesses,
effective torsional stiffnesses and an effective mass which
result in the application of translational, torsional and
inertial forces to the system. These translational,
torsional and inertial forces result in confining
vibrational energy to the vibration confinement region. The
extent of the vibration confinement region is determined by
the location at which the effective translational, torsional
and inertial forces are applied to the system.
Of the seven independent claims on appeal, we have selected
claims 12, 17, 22 and 32 as being representative of the subject
matter on appeal. A copy of those claims, as reproduced from
appendix A of appellant’s brief, is attached to this decision.
The references of record relied upon by the examiner in
rejecting the appealed claims are:
Walkowe 5,553,514 Sep. 10, 1996
(filed June 6, 1994)
Bendiksen, Mode Localization Phenomena in Large Space
Structures, 1986 (Bendiksen)
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