Appeal No. 2002-1583 Page 6
Application No. 09/299,678
Christy's invention relates to a ladder leveling apparatus that allows the user to
level the ladder from an elevated location. As shown in Figure 1, the ladder leveling
apparatus 10 includes a ladder member 20 having ladder legs 21 that are received in a
ladder leg adapter unit 12 including boot members 30 wherein the position of the
bottom of the ladder legs 21 relative to the boot members 30 is controlled by elongated
adjustment rod members 40 having an enlarged head member 44 which is actuated
proximate the upper portion of the ladder member 20. Christy teaches (column 2, line
66, to column 3, line 5) that the ladder member 20 is provided with one or more bubble
levels 27 which are disposed on the upper steps 22 (Figure 1 of Christy shows two
steps each having a bubble level) of the ladder member 20 such that the user may
manipulate the ladder leveling apparatus 10 from an elevated height without the need
to climb back down the ladder to make each incremental adjustment.
After the scope and content of the prior art are determined, the differences
between the prior art and the claims at issue are to be ascertained. Graham v. John
Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 17-18, 148 USPQ 459, 467 (1966).
Based on our analysis and review of Joseph and claim 1, it is our opinion that the
differences are (1) the support legs having a surface engaging foot pivotally attached to
an end thereof for securably engaging a ladder support surface; (2) the telescoping
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007