Appeal No. 2000-2129
Application No. 09/090,583
horizontal links is longer than the pitch t1 of the vertical links. The flattened longitudinal limbs of
the vertical links give the chain a low profile in the vertical direction, which is advantageous in the
environment of use of the chain (e.g., a coal mine), and the difference in pitch of the links facilitates
use of the chain with the sprockets found on existing machinery. A further understanding of the
invention can be derived from a reading of exemplary claim 6, which appears in the appendix to
appellants’ main brief.
The references applied by the examiner against the claims in the final rejection are:
Braun et al. (Braun) 4,867,300 Sept. 19, 1989
Grundken et al. (Grundken) GB 2,127,127 Apr. 4, 1984
Claims 6-10 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Grundken in
view of Braun.1
Reference is made to appellants’ main and reply briefs (Paper Nos. 17 and 19) and to the
examiner’s answer (Paper No. 18) for the respective positions of appellants and the examiner
regarding the merits of this rejection. In support of their position that the claims are patentable,
appellants also rely on the declaration filed December 13, 1999 (Paper No. 13).
Discussion
1In the final rejection, claims 6-10 also were rejected as being unpatentable over Braun in
view of Grundken; however, this rejection has been withdrawn by the examiner. See Paper No.
24.
2
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