Appeal No. 2003-1806 Page 5
Application No. 09/592,578
hemispherical and mutually complementary shape) and (b) "means for adjusting the
height including a support" (i.e., means for adjusting the height of the first knuckle part
relative to the second knuckle part, said means including a lower support for said
sleeve engaged inside said second knuckle part such that the lower support can move
axially, wherein said support and said sleeve have surfaces that come into mutual axial
contact and are hemispherical in shape with the hemispherical surfaces of the bottom
wall and the support being concave with the concavity of each facing toward each first
knuckle part); and (3) concluded that it would have been obvious to have modified
Balbo's hinge to include (a) complementary spherical shaped surfaces on the hinge pin
22 and sleeve 28 as suggested and taught by Wilms and (b) means for adjusting the
height of the first knuckle part relative to the second knuckle part as suggested and
taught by Green.
The appellant argues (brief, p. 6) that while the patent to Green discloses means
for adjusting the height of the first knuckle part relative to the second knuckle part,
Green's adjusting means fails to include hemispherical surfaces on the bottom wall of
the sleeve and on the support which are concave with the concavity of each facing
toward the first knuckle part.3 We agree. At best, Green's means for adjusting the
height of the first knuckle part relative to the second knuckle part includes
3 The examiner did not respond to this argument in the answer.
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