Appeal 2007-0388
Application 10/337,459
Appellants' claimed invention is directed to a wheel and tire assembly
equipped with a brake comprising a brake structure and a brake heat sink
and, in particular, a thermally activated fuse plug having a fuse installed in
the wheel structure such that the fuse extends beyond the wheel structure
toward the brake heat sink to protect the tire from overpressure due to
increased internal inflation gas temperature caused by increased temperature
of the brake heat sink (Specification 1:6-10 and 2:11-16).
Independent claim 1 is illustrative of the claimed invention and reads
as follows:
1. A method for protecting a pneumatic wheel and
tire assembly from overpressure, wherein the
wheel is equipped with a brake heat sink, and
wherein overpressure is due to increased internal
inflation gas temperature caused by increased
temperature of the brake heat sink, and wherein the
wheel comprises a wheel structure, comprising:
installing a thermally activated fuse plug
having a fuse, in the wheel structure such that said
fuse plug extends the entire fuse beyond the wheel
structure towards the brake heat sink.
THE REJECTION
Appellants seek review of the Examiner’s rejection of claims 1-21
under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as unpatentable over Stanton (US 3,201,174,
issued August 17, 1965) in view of Harvey (US 4,221,231, issued
September 9, 1980).
The Examiner provides reasoning in support of the rejection in the
Answer (mailed May 4, 2006). Appellants present opposing arguments in
2
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