Appeal No. 2004-2354
Application No. 09/923,991 Page 12
discloses using other measures to absorb energy in the event of
an impact at column 4, lines 46-65 of the patent.
Concerning dependent claim 3, we determine that employing a
fluid with a viscosity range as claimed in Jordan would have been
obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art for the reasons
discussed above regarding claim 4.
It follows that, on this record, we will sustain the
examiner’s obviousness rejections of claims 2 and 3.
§ 103(a) Rejection of claim 22 over Jordan and Sobel
In addition to claim 1, claim 22 requires that an accordion
pleat be formed along an edge of the enclosure and that the
enclosure is formed from a flexible material. As explained by
the examiner in the answer, Jordan discloses forming the casing
of flexible material, such as vinyl. See column 1, lines 20-22
and column 2, lines 17-19 of Jordan. As recognized by the
examiner, Jordan does not explicitly describe using an accordion
pleat along an edge of the casing (enclosure) of the disclosed
bumper pad shock absorber. However, the examiner relies on Sobel
for showing that a flexible housing for a bumper shock absorber
can include a portion that is pleated, like an accordion, to
allow for “greater resiliency in the shell 103 upon collision”
(see column 4, lines 8-12 of Jordan). We agree with the examiner
Page: Previous 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007