Appeal 2007-1167
Application 10/784,056
U.S.C. § 102(b) as described by Watkins, U.S. Patent 6,324,765, patented
December 4, 2001. Claims 1, 3-9, 11-14, and 16 stand rejected under 35
U.S.C. § 103(a) as unpatentable in view of the combined teachings of
Blevins, U.S. Patent 6,327,782, patented December 11, 2001, Wright, U.S.
Patent 5,107,665, patented April 28, 1992, and Bridgers, U.S. Design Patent
373,712, patented September 17, 1996. The claims on appeal are the only
claims pending in this application. Claims 2-5 depend on independent
Claim 1. Claims 7-9 and 16 depend on independent Claim 6. Claims 12-14
depend on independent Claim 11.
Not having been argued separately from their respective independent
claims, dependent Claims 2-5 stand or fall with Claim 1, dependent Claims
7-9 and 16 stand or fall with Claim 6, and dependent Claims 12-14 stand or
fall with Claim 11. Therefore, we decide this appeal on the basis of
independent Claims 1, 6, and 11. 37 CFR § 41.37(c)(1)(vii) (2006).
Independent Claims 1, 6, and 11 are transcribed below (Br. App. A):
1. A guard for a grass trimming device having a shaft with a head
at one end and a handle at the opposite end, comprising:
a releasable clamp slidably connected to the shaft;
a support member slidably connected within the releasable
clamp; and
2
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