Appeal 2007-0870
Reissue Application 09/902,904
Patent 6,038,784
(i) a tray a and b having a bottom face adapted to be supported by
an underlying surface convenient for its use, e.g., a table, and an upper face
(p. 1, ll. 73-78; p. 2, ll. 30-33; and, Figs. 1 and 3), and,
(ii) a plurality of pegs c and d extending outwardly (vertically)
from said upper face, each peg being sized and arranged so as to be able to
support an article (p. 1, ll. 79-80; p. 2, ll. 4-12; Figs. 1-4),
wherein each of the pegs are permanently mounted to the tray by
horizontal bar e in such a manner as to be movable between a first folded
storage position, wherein the entire peg is positioned adjacent to the upper
face of the tray for storage and packaging of the drying rack apparatus (Fig.
4), and a second open operative position, wherein the peg is positioned to
extend outwardly (vertically) from the upper surface, so as to enable the peg
to support an article (Fig. 3) (p. 1, ll. 17-28 and 80-85; p. 2, ll. 4-12 and 21-
26). Any water drainage from the articles being dried falls into the tray
trough a, which can be subsequently emptied (p. 1, ll. 49-51; p. 2, ll. 12-16).
Slipp further describes horizontal bar e, to which the pegs c and d are
mounted, as fitting snugly into the ends of the tray a and b such that the pegs
pivot about a single axis f (p. 1, ll. 83-86; Figs. 3 and 4). According to
Slipp, the pegs will remain in the vertical operative position until collapsed
by hand (p. 1, ll. 28-35; p. 2, ll. 17-20).
b. the issue
The issue is whether Slipp discloses each and every limitation in
claims 2, 4-7, 9, 22-26, and 29.
14
Page: Previous 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013