Appeal No. 2005-0562
Application 09/824,276
said plurality of shift forks; and a switch 144 to provide
an indication to a splitter mechanism of when said interlock
is in a predetermined position; when said interlock (figs.
6-8) is rotatable between a first position and a second
position, a detent mechanism substantially contacting said
interlock, and a detent switch coacting with said detent
mechanism to indicate when said interlock is in said first
position, to provide the indication to a splitter mechanism
(connected to switch 144); said interlock further includes a
contoured perimeter having an arcuate surface and a raised
ramp and said detent mechanism further includes a contact
surface which substantially contacts said contoured
perimeter of said interlock (fig. 6-8).
In the examiner’s view, the only thing lacking in Reynolds
is any teaching or disclosure of a detent having an external
surface with a recessed portion wherein a detent switch coacts
with said external surface of the detent mechanism. To address
this deficiency the examiner turns to Jones, urging that Jones
discloses a manual transmission comprising a detent mechanism
(Fig. 2), wherein the detent mechanism has a detent with an
external arcuate recessed portion (122) and wherein a detent
switch (132) coact with the external surface of the detent
mechanism by way of a pin (138).
From the above teachings in Reynolds and Jones, the examiner
has concluded that it would have been obvious to one of ordinary
skill in the art at the time of appellants’ invention “to have
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