Appeal No. 2002-1645 Page 17
Application No. 09/281,553
25 and the seat 5 would prevent any wheelchair from being introduced into the interior
space through the opening defined by Sorrell's open ended rectangular rear frame 10
which is bent at radius 17 to form to rear legs 24 and 25. Accordingly, the subject
matter of claim 12 is not met by Sorrell.
For the reasons set forth above, the decision of the examiner to reject claim 12,
and claims 13 to 15 dependent thereon, under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as being anticipated
by Sorrell is reversed.
The anticipation rejection based on Haruyama
We sustain the rejection of claims 1, 2, 5 and 10 under 35 U.S.C. § 102(e) as
being anticipated by Haruyama.
Haruyama's invention relates to a walker used to help a handicapped person
having difficulty in walking while supporting his or her body. An embodiment of
Haruyama's walker is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5. The walker comprises a pair of right
and left leg members 1, and a support member 2 mounted on top of the leg members
1. Each leg member 1 comprises a wheel carriage 3 carrying a front wheel 4 pivotable
about a vertical shaft 6, and a rear wheel 5, and two legs 7 vertically extending from the
inner side of the wheel carriage 3. The support member 2 comprises a pair of right and
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