Appeal No. 2005-0072
Application No. 09/656,351
a thimble comprising:
a metal thimble base having a flange and an internally
threaded post projecting from the flange, and
a plastic hollow thimble stem, said stem and said base
having mating means for securing said stem to said base,
said stem having projecting from a top end thereof a
plurality of fingers spaced about a periphery thereof, each
of the fingers having an outwardly projecting portion
defining a circumferential lip having an outer diameter
larger than the inner diameter of the shoulder of the spacer
tube of said spacer; and
wherein the stem is telescopically receivable in the spacer
tube such that when the stem is fully inserted in the spacer
tube, the lip engages the shoulder in a snap fitted arrangement.
The examiner relies upon the following references as
evidence of obviousness:
Mason 72,409 Dec. 17, 1867
Mansel 4,118,134 Oct. 3, 1978
Tillman et al. 5,031,266 Jul. 16, 1991
(Tillman)
Norkus 5,570,867 Nov. 5, 1996
The appealed claims stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a)
as follows: (a) claims 1, 2, 4-6, 8-11 and 31 over Norkus; (b)
claims 12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 24, 25, 27-29 and 33 over Norkus in
view of Tillman; (c) claims 13, 17, 20, 21 and 23 over Norkus in
view of Tillman and Mason; and (d) claim 22 over Norkus in view
of Tillman, Mason and Mansel.
We have thoroughly reviewed the respective positions
advanced by appellants and the examiner. In so doing, we find
ourselves in agreement with appellants that the examiner has
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