Appeal No. 2002-0487
Application No. 09/377,371
a flatbed truck, is reasonably pertinent to appellants' problem
of temporarily fastening a chain traction element to a vehicle's
tires. The problem is making a temporary attachment to a
vehicle's tires. Furthermore, Dickerson is also directed to the
problem of tightening a strap and chain member. This problem is
also reasonably pertinent to appellants' problem of tightening a
strap with a chain attached at one end.
Turning to the rejection of claims 8-10, claim 8 includes
the limitation of "means attached to said take-up ratchet for
protecting said holding strap against abrasion from said wheel
rim." We construe this means limitation in light of the
specification to be a flexible strap at least as wide as the
tightening strap made of fabric, rubber or non-rigid plastic.
Specification at page 7. Boyer teaches a rubber strap 12
attached to his strap 11 for the purpose of preventing the strap
and hence the chain device from slipping on the edge of the tire.
Such slippage allows the chain to move during use. We are in
agreement with the examiner that it would have been obvious to
provide the device of Stokke with a rubber strap as suggested by
Boyer for the purpose of preventing slipping of Stokke's chain in
use.
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