Appeal No. 2005-0562
Application 09/824,276
utilized the detent mechanism of Jones... within Reynolds... as
an addition to the non-descript internal structure of the detent
mechanism of Reynolds... so as to provide vital sensory
information for the transmission” (final rejection, pages 3-4).
In responding to appellants’ arguments in the brief
concerning lack of motivation to combine the applied references,
the examiner has amplified the position in the final rejection by
now indicating on page 3 of the answer that
it would have been obvious to have modified Reynolds,
specifically the internal structure of the shift indicator
mechanism acted upon by the plunger 144, with only the
mechanical attributes of the shift indicator system of
Jones, specifically the plunger 110 having an arcuate
surface 122, and shift sensor mechanism 132, 138, so as to
create a robust, two-position sensory system that relays
shift position information to a central ECU, thereby
providing proper and safe shifting, as suggested by Jones.
Note that Reynolds only shows a generic shift indicating
mechanism acted upon by a plunger and Jones teaches to one
of ordinary skill in the art the providing of a plunger with
an arcuate surface to engage a shift actuating shank to
indicate a shift position. As such there is a clear
motivation to modify Reynolds in view of Jones.
6
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007