Appeal No. 2005-2755 4
Application No. 09/612,403
provided with an oil supply reservoir 79 placed under the
protective cowling 88. The protective cowling is
constructed of two parts--an upper cover 89 and a lower
tray 91. The oil supply tank 79 has a fill opening closed
by cap 86. In order to fill the oil reservoir 79 and check
the oil level on gauge 87 without removal of the upper
cover 89 of the protective cowling, the upper cover has an
oil supply cover 96 pivotally mounted on the upper cover by
means of pivot pin 99. The oil supply cover has a spring
to bias the cover in an open position and a latch 104 to
secure it closed.
The patent to Brehmer discloses a transom extension
for an outboard engine. The extension is a hollow box-like
structure with an access panel 46 in the form of a
removable lid. The removable lid appears to be completely
detachable from the transom extension. The lid provides
access to the interior of the sealed compartment 45 of the
transom extension. Thus Brehmer is an example of an access
plate secured with screws and completely detachable to
enable access to an interior opening. In our view it would
have been obvious to replace the spring-biased pivoting oil
supply cover 96 with its single latch and spring-biased
pivot with a completely detachable, removable lid secured
by multiple fasteners as disclosed by Brehmer for the self-
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Last modified: November 3, 2007