Appeal No. 2002-2021 Page 5
Application No. 09/024,077
axial compression or extension of a coil spring, that is, along the longitudinal axis, and
the “horizontal spring rate” is the rate that comes into play when a coil spring is bent
along its longitudinal axis, that is, laterally of the longitudinal axis. In the appellant’s
invention, the longitudinal axes of springs 60 and 130 are oriented horizontally. This
being the case, the “substantial horizontal displacement” mentioned on page 12 of the
specification refers to the movement of the spring along its horizontally oriented
longitudinal axis as the feeding surface is vibrated, and the “minimal” vertical
displacement (page 12, line 8) refers to the movement of the spring laterally of its
longitudinal axis, that is, perpendicular to the its longitudinal axis. The limitation in
question is best understood by considering the description of the operation of the
springs on page 10 of the specification: “The springs are sufficiently stiff as to support
feeder 14. That is, the springs 60 will not sag to depart substantially from their
alignment on a horizontal axis” (lines 11-13). In this regard, “sag” would be deviation
from the longitudinal axis of the spring, which happens to be oriented horizontally in the
appellant’s invention. Using the language of claim 1 as a guide, the resilient element
possesses “sufficient stiffness” against displacement from its “generally horizontal
[longitudinal] axis” as “to prevent said axis from shifting from a generally horizontal
position.”
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Last modified: November 3, 2007