Appeal No. 2003-0087 7
Application No. 09/512,164
mechanism, and will be operative to maintain a release of the brakes as long as sufficient
fluid pressure is maintained in the cylinder 28 to overcome the pressure of the spring 30”
(col. 4, lines 5-9). Fontaine describes Figure 7 as “a similar view showing the coupling to
the hand-operated emergency or parking brake lever” (col. 2, lines 57-60). Admittedly, the
specification of Fontaine makes no further direct reference to Figure 7. Fontaine does,
however, state that it is an aim of the invention to provide an automatic parking or
emergency brake that “can be reversed to pull or push on the brakes just as effectively”
(col. 1, 51-53; emphasis added). This disclosure, coupled with the description of Figure 7
at col. 2, lines 59-60, leads us to conclude that one skilled in the art would reasonably infer
from Fontaine’s disclosure as a whole that Figures 6 and 7 represent alternate
arrangements for incorporating the actuator of Figures 4 and 5 into a braking system, with
Figure 6 illustrating an arrangement wherein the clevis 32 at the left end of the piston rod
31 is utilized to provide a spring applied force to the brakes by pulling the force
transmitting member 56, and with Figure 7 illustrating an arrangement wherein the clevis
34 at the right end of the piston rod 31 is utilized to provide a spring applied force to the
brakes by pushing the force transmitting member 525. Accordingly, we find that Figure 7
discloses an actuator having a piston rod that extends out of an actuator casing to actuate
5From Figure 7, it is also apparent that member 52 may by pivoted by a hand
operated lever (i.e., lever 58) to set the brakes.
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