Appeal No. 2003-0539
Application No. 09/188,702
in Figure 1) may be inserted. Appellants’ Figure 2 shows the
connector in plan view. As seen in Figure 2, the connector
comprises a plurality of pairs of holes for receiving projecting
fingers (elements 17a, 17b in Figure 1) of rods 12. Two types of
pairs of holes are provided. In a first type (element 23 in Figure
2), holes 24a and 24b are separated from each other by a web. In a
second type (element 22 in Figure 2), the holes are interconnected
to each other by a narrow passage extending between the holes.
A further understanding of the claimed invention can be
derived from a reading of exemplary claim 6, reproduced below:
6. Female connectors [sic, connector] for use with a
genderless construction system wherein said female connector is
comprised of a substantially round disc shaped plastic member
having two holes formed therein and adapted to mate with a two-
fingered genderless connector by means of an interference fit when
the fingers are inserted into the holes, at least one of said holes
being substantially triangularly shaped and including three
internal angular corners, one of said corners of said at least one
hole being closer to the other of said two holes than the other two
of said three corners.
The single reference relied upon by the examiner in the final
rejection is:
Glickman 5,350,331 Sep. 27, 1994
2
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