Appeal No. 2006-0022 Παγε 15
Application No. 09/810,943
vehicle seat track member such that the deflectable portion is positioned between the
mounting and support portions. We do not agree. Clearly, when Research Disclosure
is modified in the manner set forth above with respect to claim 36, each of the sensors
would include a support portion mounted to a vehicle seat track member such that the
deflectable portion is positioned between the mounting and support portions.
For the reasons set forth above, the decision of the examiner to reject claim 45
under 35 U.S.C. § 103 is affirmed.
Claims 48 and 51
We sustain the rejection of claims 48 and 51 under 35 U.S.C. § 103.
Appellants argue (brief, pp. 18-19; reply brief, p. 6) that the applied prior art does
not teach or suggest that the safety restraint device is not deployed if seat occupant
weight is below a predetermined weight. We do not agree. Research Disclosure
teaches that the weight information can be used to switch airbags completely off for
empty seats or occupants where deployment of the airbag would be inappropriate (e.g.,
a rear facing infant seat). In addition, Gagnon teaches that if a seat is unoccupied or is
occupied by a person of a particular size, it may not be necessary to activate a safety
device associated with that seat and that in the case of an infant, the combined weight
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