Appeal No. 2004-1441
Application No. 09/526,405
transversely between side flanges 30 of the seat pan framework 3
and cylindrical journals 51 on the ends of the cross-member
connected by a cable 7 to a seat belt pyrotechnical pretensioner
6 installed on the side flanges 30. The Figure 5 embodiment
focused on by the examiner also includes a pair of links 9
pivotally mounted on the side flanges 30, stops 10 on the side
flanges for limiting the angular movement of the links, and
secondary grooves 91 in the links for receiving the cylindrical
journals 51. Pajon describes the operation of the device as
follows:
In relation to FIGS. 5 and 6, when a shock on the
vehicle tends to throw the seat user forwards, the
links 9 are then driven by the pretensioner and the
cross-member 5 extends upwards and towards the rear of
the seat, along a trajectory shown by arrow F3, from
its rest position to the extended position.
As soon as the links 9 are secured by the stops
10, as shown on FIG. 8, the cross-member can then
gradually retract towards the inside of the seat, along
the direction shown by arrow F4, in the link
longitudinal direction, under the thrust exerted by the
user’s pelvis. The edges of the secondary groove[s] 91
are then deformed by the journals 51, from a
predetermined threshold, to hold the cross-member in
contact with the user’s thighs [column 5, lines 16
through 29].
In applying Pajon against independent claims 1 and 5 (see
page 2 in the final rejection), the examiner reads the claim
limitations relating to the casing (claims 1 and 5), the power
actuator (claims 1 and 5), the arm (claims 1 and 5) and the
4
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Last modified: November 3, 2007