Appeal 2006-2612
Application 10/225,316
Appellant’s claimed invention is directed to a shock isolator including
elastomeric sidewalls forming a cavity, a base member secured to a first end
of the sidewalls (first base end), and a pressure equalizer. Appellant
discloses that the shock isolator functions as a support for a load while
providing vibration and shock attenuation benefits. See, for example, page
4, lines 20-24 of Appellant’s Specification. Claim 1 is reproduced below.
A shock isolator for simultaneously isolating shocks and for
supporting a static load comprising:
a set of elastomer side walls forming a cavity therein, said side
walls having a central axis, a first base end, and a second base end,
said first base end and said second base end centrally positioned with
respect to each other so that line parallel to said central axis and
extending through said first base end does not extend through said
second base end and vice versa;
a first base member, said first base member secured to said first
base end of said side walls to thereby encapsulate the cavity within the
side walls; and
a pressure equalizer, said pressure equalizer venting a fluid
from the cavity within the side walls as the shock isolator is
compressed and allowing the fluid to enter the cavity within the side
walls as the shock isolator returns to an uncompressed state to thereby
prevent a fluid pressure differential across the side walls from
inhibiting an elastomeric response of the shock isolator.
The Examiner relies on the following prior art reference as evidence
that is used in rejecting the appealed claims:
Landi US 5,180,619 Jan. 19, 1993
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