Appeal No. 2002-1408
Application No. 09/228,076
mast and mounting system, and that even if such were done it would not result in the
invention recited in claim 1.
QUIK SET discloses a retractable volleyball net that is suspended between two
masts (legs). Although not shown in the drawing, it would appear that the masts are
attached in some fashion to an overhead structure, for it is stated that “you just push a
button and the system lowers itself to the gym floor,” and then “just snap the tension
braces and you’re ready to play.” As shown in the drawing and explained in the text,
“Rubber Pads are installed on bottom of the legs to completely protect your gym floor.
Won’t scratch or mar floor.” It is clear that the QUIK SET legs are in contact with the
floor when the net is in the play position, and therefore the structure fails to disclose or
teach the limitation in the claim that “the system does not contact and is not secured to
the floor.” In addition, QUIKSET does not show or explain how the structure is
supported, and therefore does not disclose or teach the limitation in claim 1 that the
masts be “pivotally connected to an overhead structure to pivot about an axis parallel to
the longitudinal axis of the net between a stored position and a play position.”
Albach is directed to a basketball backstop supported by a frame B and a frame
brace C. Frame B is pivotally attached to overhead rails D in such a manner as to be
lowered from a stored position where it is essentially parallel to the rails to a play
position where it is perpendicular thereto. The components of the system do not
contact the floor. Considering that the “net” in the Albach device is a basketball net, the
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007