Appeal No. 2004-0763 Page 4
Application No. 09/758,641
Yamane discloses a joint mechanism for a mowing machine which can be easily
assembled and disassembled, the joint mechanism including a holder 2, clamp 4 and
vibrational damper 3. The clamp has a pair of flexible arms 4a on radially opposite
sides of the clamp with an engagement hook 4b being formed on each of the flexible
arms 4a. The holder, clamp and damper are secured to a support member 1a of a
casing 1 by simply inserting the clamp 4 together with the holder 2 and damper 3 into
the support member 1a of the casing and causing the engagement of hooks 4b with
engagement holes (through holes) 1b formed in the support member 1a. In this state,
engagement of the hooks 4b with the engagement holes 1b prevents the clamp 4,
damper 3 and holder 2 from unintentionally separating from the support member 1a
(column 6, lines 38-41).
The examiner relies on Yamane for its teaching that providing a shaft with an
opening to receive spring type retention members prevents unintentional separation of
components (answer, page 8). According to the examiner (answer, pages 6 and 7), it
would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of appellants’
invention, in light of the teachings of Yamane, to provide the control shaft of Amonett
with an opening in the sidewall thereof that receives the spring retention member 548 of
Amonett’s locking pin 502 “for the purpose of preventing unintentional separation of the
components.”
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