Appeal No. 2003-1359 5
Application No. 09/285,260
specification. In re Morris, 127 F.3d 1048, 1054, 44 USPQ2d 1023, 1027 (Fed. Cir. 1997).
See also, In re Sneed, 710 F.2d 1544, 1548, 218 USPQ 385, 388 (Fed. Cir. 1983).
Independent claim 1 is directed to an artificial foot comprising, inter alia, a first spring
element comprising at least one forefoot leaf spring element extending into the forefoot
region of the artificial foot, a second spring element located at least in part in the heel
region of the artificial foot, and
an adapting device actuated in response to flexing of said second
spring element and operatively connected to the second spring element for
changing the spring rigidity of the artificial foot by changing the spring rigidity
of the forefoot leaf spring element responsive to a load placed on the artificial
foot which causes flexing of the second spring element, wherein the adapting
device is operatively connected to the forefoot leaf spring element for directly
changing its bending resistance and wherein deflection of the second spring
element in the heel due of flexing thereof comprises an input variable for
actuating the adapting device. [Emphasis added.]
Independent claim 24 is similar to claim 1 in that it also is directed to an artificial foot
comprising a first spring element comprising at least one forefoot leaf spring element, and
a second spring element located at least in part in the heel region of the artificial foot.
However, claim 24 claims the adapting device in means-plus-function format. More
particularly, claim 24 calls for
means, operatively connected to the second spring element, for
changing the spring rigidity of the artificial foot by directly changing the
bending resistance of the forefoot spring element responsive to flexing of said
second spring element due to a load placed on the artificial foot, wherein
deflection of the second spring element in the heel due to flexing thereof
comprises an input variable for actuating the adapting device [sic, means for
changing]. [Emphasis added.]
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