Appeal No. 2003-0106
Application 09/502,680
extension of the rod (96) relative to the cylinder (94) of
actuator (22) causes the linkage (20) to unfold and thereby raise
the plate holders (16, 18) and, by inference, any replaceable
plate or plates carried thereon.
Based on the foregoing, it is clear to us that an
understanding of the claim language in question hinges on what
enlightenment one of ordinary skill in the art would derive from
appellants’ specific reference on page 7 of the specification to
a “bottle jack” or “ratchet-type lift” being suitable for use as
the actuator (22) of the invention. In our opinion, one of
ordinary skill in the art at the time of appellants’ invention
would have understood that a conventionally available “bottle
jack” or “ratchet-type lift” operates via movement of a handle or
rod, like (102) seen in Figures 1-3 of the present application,
in an up and down pumping action, wherein each downward movement
of the handle/rod causes a relatively small, incremental movement
or extension of the actuator rod (96) to occur and whereby
movement of the linkage (20) and raising of the plate holders
(16, 18), and any replaceable plate or plates carried thereon,
from the fully lowered position seen in Figure 4 of the
application drawings to the fully extended condition seen in
7
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