Appeal No. 2002-2074
Application No. 09/494,965
II. The 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) rejection of claims 1, 54, 62 and 63
as being unpatentable over Garrett in view of Wood
Garrett discloses a grenade launcher comprising a pressure
cylinder 3, a grenade barrel 5 coaxial with the pressure
cylinder, a piston 9 in the pressure cylinder, a projector plate
10 in the grenade barrel, a piston rod 8 connecting the piston
and projector plate, a cartridge 18, and a firing mechanism (see
Figure 4) for exploding the cartridge. The expanding gases
generated by the explosion flow into the pressure cylinder and
act on the piston, piston rod and projector plate to discharge a
grenade loaded in the grenade barrel.
As conceded by the examiner (see pages 6 and 7 in the
answer), Garrett does not respond to the limitations in
independent device claims 1 and 62 requiring a chamber, in which
a charge of a compressed fluid is developed, selectively coupled
in fluid communication with the inner space of the barrel so that
the charge of compressed fluid is selectively released into the
inner space of the barrel, or the corresponding limitations in
independent method claims 54 and 63 requiring the steps of
providing a charge of compressed fluid and rapidly releasing the
charge into the tubular member. To overcome this deficiency, the
examiner turns to Wood.
8
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007