Appeal No. 2006-0954
Application No. 10/316,444
select angle is the angle, relative to the clamp axis, of a line
along which a finger on the handle moves starting at the
engagement point.2
The examiner argues that Buckley discloses, in figure 2, a
bicycle hydraulic disc brake master cylinder comprising each of
the components recited in the appellant’s claims, but does not
disclose the mechanical advantage or the select angle (office
action mailed July 14, 2004, page 2). Cheever, the examiner
argues, discloses a bicycle brake handle and pivot assembly that
increases the mechanical advantage (office action mailed July 14,
2004, page 3).
Unlike Buckley’s hydraulic system, Cheever’s brake lever
moves a cable (col. 2, lines 34-40). “The mounting bracket and
the brake lever are configured, and the effective cable
attachment point disposed relative to the lever pivot, such that
actuation of the brake lever about the lever pivot displaces the
cable in a direction transverse to the cable length toward the
lever pivot. This provides at least a 33% increase in mechanical
advantage over the actuation range of the brake lever from a
fully retracted to a fully deflected position” (col. 2, lines 40-
specified in those claims.
2 The mechanical advantage is maintained between the engagement point and the
fully actuated position, and the actuation chord is at an angle no more than
6° less than the select angle, because the pivotable connection is close to
the clamp axis and the handle, at the engagement point, extends outwardly from
4
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007