Appeal No. 2003-1447
Application No. 09/689,720
I. The Rejection of Claims 1-4, 7, 9-14, and 18-21 under 35
U.S.C. § 102(b) as being anticipated by Takagi.
The examiner has found that Takagi discloses an automotive
electronic component for use in an automotive stereo system,
comprising a face plate which is detachable from a base component,
a cantilever element on the base component, and a rib element
rigidly mounted on the face plate, wherein during removal of the
face plate from the base, the rib engages the cantilever and
prevents complete disengagement of the face plate from the base
component until an additional force is applied to the face plate.
(Examiner’s Answer, page 3, line 18 - page 4, line 8).
The appellants, on the other hand, assert that Takagi’s
cantilever element is not a cantilever, rather, it is a spring
actuated pivot arm (Appeal Brief, page 6, lines 5-8).
It is clear that this entire case rests on the definition of
cantilever. None is provided in the specification, other than
by reference to the projection numbered 16 in figures 2 and 3.
Our dictionary contains the following definition of cantilever:
can·ti·le·ver (kănʹtl-ēīv~r, -ĕvī~r) noun
1. A projecting structure, such as a beam, that is supported at
only one end.
2. A member, such as a beam, that projects beyond a fulcrum and is
supported by a balancing member or a downward force behind the
fulcrum.
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