Appeal No. 2003-0013
Application No. 09/569,539
A first zone of the spring provides a relatively low
initial spring constant so that the springs are
sufficiently stretched to provide the desired amount of
bounce or springiness to the seat when a person of
relatively low weight such as a child is sitting on the
seat. The second zone provides a relatively high initial
spring constant so that when a heavier person, or more
than one person, sits on the seat the total elongation of
the spring is significantly less than it would be if the
entire spring had the spring constant of the first zone.
Accordingly, the springs provide a desired amount of
stretch and springiness for a much wider range of weights
supported on the seat than a conventional spring having a
single spring constant.
A copy of the appealed claims appears in the appendix to
appellant’s main brief.
The references relied upon by the examiner as evidence of
obviousness are:
Boudreau 5,004,216 Apr. 2, 1991
Ayrolles 5,564,987 Oct. 15, 1996
Claims 1-6 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being
unpatentable over Ayrolles in view of Boudreau.
Reference is made to appellant’s main and reply briefs (Paper
Nos. 13 and 15) and to the examiner’s answer (Paper No. 14) for the
respective positions of appellant and the examiner regarding the
merits of this rejection.
Discussion
Ayrolles, the examiner’s primary reference, discloses a
swinging seat with resilient suspension comprising a seat 6 for
2
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