DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE UNITED STATES PATENT AND …

NAME

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE EXM1INATION FOR REGISTRATION TO PRACTICE

October 9, 1984

Morning Section (100 Points) Time: 3 Hours

TO PASS THE MORNING SECTION OF THE EXAMINATION, YOU MUST OBTAIN A SCORE OF AT LEAST 70 POINTS. THE POINT VALUE OF EACH QUESTION APPEARS IN PARENTHESES AFTER THE NUMBER OF THE QUESTION.

Any examinee who passes the morning section of the examination, but fails the afternoon section of the examination, will not be required to retake the morning section, provided the examinee takes and passes the afternoon section of one of the next two succeeding examinations.

READ INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

Write your name in the place provided in the top right-hand corner of this examination booklet and page 1 of the answer sheet supplied to you. All questions must be answered on the answer sheet.

This section of the examination consists of three parts, weighted 30, 60 and 10 points respectively: (1) True-False part, (2) Multiple choice part and (3) Narrative part.

Answer all questions on your answer sheet. No additional paper is needed.

This examination is open book, and you may use any books, notes, or written material that you believe will be of help to you.

NOTE: NO ADDITIONAL FACTS SHOULD BE ASSUMED. IN PART 3 POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED FOR IRRELEVANT DISCUSSION AND INCORRECT REASONING.

You have a total of three (3) hours to complete the morning section of the examination.

DIRECTIONS FOR MARKING THE MORNING SECTION ANSWER SHEET

Use only a No. 2 (or softer) lead pencil. Darken completely the circle corresponding to your answer. You must keep your mark within the circle. Stray marks will be counted as errors. Erase completely all marks except your answer.

SAHPLES

Part 1

If an answer to a true/false question is true, darken completely the true circle.

1. T e F 0

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Part 2

If an answer to a multiple choice question is "c", darken completely the "c" circle.

47A. a o b 0 c • d 0 e o

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Part 3

Questions in part 3 must be answered with a written yes or no, together with a reason which is complete, brief and to the point. For instance, Yes, because the person could be seen in the moonlight.

Morning Section Page Two

Part 1. True/False (1 Point Each -- 30 points total)

Each correct answer is worth one (1) point. No points are awarded for incorrect answers, or unanswered questions. Questions answered both true and false are considered to be incorrect answers.

1. To obtain a U.S. application filing date, the national patent application specification and drawings may be filed using the "Express Mail Post Office to Addressee" service of the United States Postal Service.

2. An application may be accorded a filing date of the day received in the Office even though it is not accompanied by an oath or declaration by the applicant.

3. A document published after the filing date of an application can never be used to establish the level of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the filing date of the application.

4. To avoid abandonment of an allowed application, the issue fee may be paid up to 6 months after the date of the Notice of Allowance if accompanied by a request for an extension of time and appropriate fee.

5. The associate attorney appointed by the principal attorney may not, in turn, appoint an associate attorney to prosecute the application.

6. It may be proper for an applicant to sign the oath or declaration without review of the specification if he described his invention to a registered attorney or agent and that same attorney or agent prepared the specification and assures the inventor that the specification was written according to the inventor's specific instructions.

7. Reference A discloses a bicycle. Reference B discloses a toy bicycle one-tenth the size of A. In combining reference A with reference B, the examiner need not show that the structure of B can be bodily incorporated within the structure of A.

Morning Section - Page Three

8. An affidavit filed by the inventor establishing commercial success is in and of itself sufficient to overcome a rejection underd35 u.s.c. 103.

9. An oath or declaration need not identify a foreign application for patent if a claim for foreign priority is not made on said foreign application.

10. The time for filing the notice and reasons of appeal to the u.s. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is sixty days from the date of the decision of the Board of Appeals.

11. A disclosure statement which includes a listing of patents and a concise explanation of the relevance of each listed item must be considered by the examiner even though an Ex parte Quayle action has been mailed.

12. A petition to revive an unintentionally abandoned application must be filed within one year of the date of the Notice of Abandonment.

13. An interview with a primary examiner in charge of an application removes the necessity for response to an Office action.

14. The active participation of the member of the public filing a protest ends with the filing of the protest.

15. Any person may, at any time during the period of enforceability of a patent, file a request for reexamination by the Patent and Trademark Office.

16. The time period within which to file a petition to revive an abandoned application may be extended if a showing of good and sufficient reasons for such extension can be established.

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17. The recitation of "a moisture content of not more than 70% by weight" in ~ claim of an application may read on dry material.

18. The term "integral" in a claim of an application is sufficiently broad to embrace constructions united by such means as fastening and welding.

19. A terminal disclaimer and appropriate fee must accompany a petition to revive an unintentionally abandoned application if such petition is not filed within six months of the date of abandonment.

20. A double patenting rejection under 35 u.s.c~ 101 may be overcome with a terminal disclaimer.

21. An application may be withdrawn from issue even though the issue fee has been paid and the patent to be issued has received its issue date and patent number.

22. A license may be granted retroactively for filing an application in a foreign country.

23. In resolving the question of public use under 35 u.s.c. 102(b), if it is determined that the use of the claimed invention was both public and experimental, patentability of the claimed invention is not negated by the "public use".

24. The number of references combinable in establishing obviousness under 35 u.s.c~ 103 is theoretically infinite.

25. An appointed attorney or agent in a pending patent application may withdraw therefrom only upon application to and with approval of the Commissioner. 1

26. Patentable invention may lie in the discovery of a source of a problem even though the solution may be obvious once the source of the problem is identified.

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27. A claim only reciting a single means for performing a specified function is proper.

28. If the specification discloses that a particular feature or element is critical or essential to the practice of the invention, failure to recite or include that particular feature or element in the claims would support a rejection that those claims are not supported by an enabling disclosure.

29. Negative limitations, i.e. those which define the invention in terms of what it is not rather than what it is are not permissible under 35 U.S.C. 112.

30. An application will not be accorded a filing date unless it is in the English language.

* * * * * * * * * * Part 2. Multiple Choice (60 Points)

There is only 1 correct answer to each question. When "each of the above" or "none of the above" is a correct answer, no other answer will be considered correct for receiving full or partial credit.

Unless otherwise indicated no date in any of the situations described in this section falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday.

31. ( 2 points)

Which claim 5 of the following example is a proper dependent claim, assuming claim 1 is an independent claim, claim 2 depends on claim 1, claim 3 depends on claim 1 or claim 2 and claim 4 depends on claim 3?

a) Claim 5, An article as in claims 1 and 2 , • • •

b) Claim 5, An article as in claims 2 or 3, •••

c) Claim 5, An article as in claims 1 or 4, •••

d) Claim 5, An article as in claim 4, ••• e) Claim 5, An article as in claims 1

or 6 , • • •

Morning Section Page Six

3 2 . ( 2 points )

Which of the following may not be relied upon when amending an application, so as to avoid a question of "new matter"?

a) Original drawings. b) Abstract as filed. c) A preliminary amendment to the

specification filed with the application. d) Original claims. e) None of the above.

3 3 . ( 2 points)

The statutory time period within which the Examiner is required to respond to an amendment filed by the applicant is

a) six months from the time such amendment is filed. ·

b) thirty days from the time such amendment is filed.

c) sixty days from the time such amendment is filed.

d) three months from the time such amendment is filed.

e) None of the above.

3 4 . ( 2 points )

Tom accused Bob of infringing all the claims in Tom's patent. You, as a registered patent agent, are asked by your client, Bob, to advise him whether the product he is manufacturing infringes on Tom's patent. How should you advise Bob?

a) Compare the claims in Tom's patent with the device Bob is manufacturing and advise Bob to stop manufacturing his product if some of the claims are clearly infringed.

b) Tell Bob he would not be liable for infringement until he is sued by Tom.

c) Advise Bob to apply for a patent with claims that will not read on the device of Tom.

d) Inform Bob that you are unable to advise him whether his product infringes Tom's patent claims because infringement is not a matter connected with practice before the Patent and Trademark Office.


Morning Section Page Seven

35. (2 points)

Matter added to an application after it is filed in the Patent and Trademark Office is not new matter when

a) it is added to the specification before the first Office Action.

b) it is accompanied by an additional oath covering the added matter.

c) it incorporates by reference a patent describing how to use the invention which was inadequately described.

d) Each of the above. e) None of the above.

36. (2 points)

Which of the following is non-statutory subject matter?

a) A manufactured living bacterium. b) A sequence of mental steps. c) An intermediate article. d) (a) , (b) and (c) above. e) (a) and (b) above.

37. ( 2 points)

Which of the following, if properly shown, may rebut a prima facie case of obviousness?

a) Unexpected beneficial results. b) Synergism. c) Commercial success. d) Long felt need. e) Each of the above.

38. (2 points)

Which of the following may be relied on by the examiner when making a rejection under 35 u.s.c. 103?

a) A statement by applicant in the record of the application that something was well known before applicant's invention.

b) An affidavit by the examiner that he has personal knowledge of the public existence of something prior to applicant's invention date.

c) Logical reasoning based on engineering or scientific principles involved in a reference.


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3 9. ( 2 points)

Essential material (i.e., material necessary to support the claims) may be incorporated by reference to:

a) an allowed u.s. application disclosing the essential material.

b) a foreign patent disclosing the essential material.

c) a patent or application which itself incorporates the essential material by reference.

d) an abandoned application of another.

e) Each of the above.

4 0. ( 2 points)

A laminated article is nothing more than a.multi-layer, sandwich-type article. Claim 1 reads as follows: "A laminated article layers A, B, C and D" Consider that Patent X teaches a lam~nated article having layers A, B, C, D, E. Which of the following terms, if inserted in the blank of claim 1 above, would preclude a proper rejection of claim 1 under 35 u.s.c. 102 as unpatentable over X?

a) Comprising. b) Consisting of. c) Including. d) Containing. e) None of the above.

41 • ( 2 points )

Retroactive extensions of time may be "bought" under 37 CFR 1.136(a) in

a) reexamination cases. b) PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty)

applications. c) reissue applications involving

litigated patents. d) applications involved in

interference pursuant to 37 CFR 1.207. e) None of the above.

Morning Section Page Nine

4 2 . ( 2 points )

If a claim is presented for matter originally shown or described but not substantially embraced in the statement of invention or claims originally presented:

a) the examiner should reject the claims as including new matter.

b) a supplemental oath or declaration must be filed.

c) the claim does not contain new matter and no supplemental oath or declaration is needed.

d) although the claim contains new matter it should be admitted if accompanied by a supplemental oath or declaration.


43. (2 points)

Which of the following statements regarding reissue practice is false?

a) An examiner may require a restriction in a reissue application.

b) The scope of the original patent claims may be enlarged.

c) Reissue applications may be filed by an assignee of the entire interest.

d) The reissue claims must be for the same invention as that disclosed as being the invention in the original patent.


4 4 . ( 2 points )

An examiner finding a new application to be allowable after the initial examination, causes a notice of allowance to be mailed on June 19, 1984. An amendment prepared and mailed, with a certificate of mailing by the patent attorney of record on June 18, 1984 arrives in the Patent and Trademark Office on June 22, 1984. The amendment would have the status of:

a) a preliminary amendment which is enterable as a matter of right because the certificate of mailing means that the amendment must be considered as being filed on June 18, 1984.

Horning Section Page Ten

b) An amendment which is not enterable as a matter of right because it is an ~endment after the notice of allowance.

c) An amendment which is enterable as a matter of right because applicant has not received a rejection.


4 5 • ( 2 points )

Filing by a person other than the inventor is permitted when:

a) the inventor refuses to execute the application.

b) the inventor is deceased. c) the inventor is legally

incapacitated. d) Each of the above. e) None of the above.

4 6 • ( 2 points )

Jones conceived of his invention on January 1, 1982, had a working model by June 1, 1982, and filed for an application in the PTO on March 4, 1983.

Which of the following references could be overcome by an affidavit under 37 CFR §1.131 by Jones establishing reduction to practice on June 1, 1982?

a) A u.s. patent describing and claiming the same invention and having a filing date of July 1, 1982 and a patent date of May 1, 1983.

b) A U.S. patent describing but not claiming the same invention and having a filing date of February 20, 1982 and a patent date of March 15, 1983.

c) A u.s. patent describing but not claiming the same invention and having a filing date of June 10, 1982 and a patent date of August 3, 1983.

d) A French patent describing the same invention and having a patent date of March 3, 1982.

e) A magazine article published January 10, 1982.

Morning Section Page Eleven

4 7. (14 points total)

Jones, a resident of Canada, comes to you on December 1, 1982 as patent agent for the purpose of obtaining a patent for his invention. He tells you that he first conceived of his invention in Canada January 1, 1982, and without diligence made a working model in Canada by June 1, 1982. You prepare an application and file it with the PTO on March 4, 1983.

For each of the following facts, determine what paragraph, if any, of 35 u.s.c. 102 is a bar.

A) (2 Points) The invention was patented by Jones in Canada on February 2, ,1983 on an application filed March 4, 1982.

a) 35 u.s.c. Sl02(a) b) 35 u.s.c. Sl02(b) c) 35 u.s.c. Sl02(d) d) 35 u.s.c. Sl02(e) e) None of the above

B) (2 Points) The invention is described in a French patent to Smith granted June 3, 1983 with a filing date of March 1, 1982.

a) 35 u.s.c. Sl02(a) b) 35 u.s.c. Sl02(d) c) 35 u.s.c. Sl02(f) d) 35 u.s.c. Sl02(g) e) None of the above

C) (2 Points) The invention is described in a u.s. patent to Johnson et al granted on December 3, 1982 and having a filing date of December 1, 1981.

a) 35 u.s.c. Sl02(c) b) 35 u.s.c. Sl02(d) c) 35 u.s.c. Sl02(e) d) 35 u.s.c. Sl02(g) e) None of the above

D) (2 Points) Jones mentions that his friend, Tom, got the model to work by adding an improvement to the invention on June 1, 1982.

a) 35 u.s.c. Sl02(a) b) 35 u.s. c. Sl02(b) c) 35 u.s.c. Sl02(f) d) 35 u.s. c. Sl02(g) e) None of the above

Morning Section Page Twelve

E) (2 Points) While the u.s. application you filed is still pending, Jones tells you that he already patented his invention in Japan on March 1, 1983 and that he filed for such Japanese patent on March 10, 1982.

a) 35 u.s.c. §102(a) b) 35 u.s.c. §102(b) c) 35 u.s.c. §102(d) d) 35 u.s.c. §102(g) e) None of the above

F) (2 Points) Commencing in April, 1982, Smith demonstrated the invention at fairs and department stores throughout the Northeast United States.

a) 35 u.s.c. §102(a) b) 35 u.s. c. §102(b) c) 35 u.s.c. §102(c) d) 35 u.s. c. §102(d) e) 35 u.s.c. §102(f)

G) (2 Points) The invention is described in a January 2, 1982 issue of a British magazine.

a) 35 u.s.c. Sl02(b) b) 35 u.s.c. §102(c) c) 35 u.s.c. Sl02(d) d) 35 u.s.c. §102(e) e) 35 u.s.c. Sl02(g)

48. (5 points total)

A) (1 Point) The time from the date of service of the patent owner's statement within which a reply may be filed by the reexamination requestor is:

a) sixty days, b) three months, c) six months, d) two months, e) ninety days.

B) (1 Point) The period for response to a final Office action set by statute is:


Morning Section Page Thirteen

C) (1 Point) The time from the date of a supplemental Examiner's Answer within which to file a reply to said supplemental Examiner's Answer is:


D) (1 Point) The time from the date of an original decision by the Board of Appeals within which to file a request for rehearing or reconsideration of such decision is:

a) thirty days, b) forty-five days, c) sixty days, d) ninety days, e) two months.

E) (1 Point) The time from the date of abandonment of an application within which to file a petition to revive based on unavoidable delay is:

a) six months, b) one year, c) two years, d) three years, e) none of the above.

49. (5 points total) Assume no small entity status has been established.

A) (1 Point) The extension fee for response within second month pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) is:

a) $50, b) $100, c) $150, d) $200, e) none of the above.

B)· (1 Point) The fee for petition to the Commissioner· to withdraw the holding of the finality of an Office action is:


Morning Section Page Fourteen

C) (1 Point) The fee for filing a petition for the unintentionally delayed payment of the fee for issuing a patent is:


D) (1 Point) The issue fee for issuing a reissue patent is:


E) (1 Point) The fee for amending an application to contain a multiple dependent claim is:


SOA. (2 Points)

Indicate which of the following rejections would be overcome by a properly filed terminal disclaimer.

a) A rejection where claims in the application and a patent are drawn to the same invention, and both the application and patent have the same inventive entity.

b) An obviousness-type double patenting rejection where both the application and patent have the same inventive entity but are not commonly assigned.

c) A double patenting rejection where the applicant had voluntarily filed a second application with a claimed species not patentably distinct from that claimed in the first application, and no election requirement was made by the examiner, the second application being rejected on the first.

d) None of the above. e) All of the above.

Morning Section Page Fifteen

SOB. (2 Points)

Which of the following is reviewable by the Board of Appeals? a) The examiner's holding that a rejection

was properly made final. b) The examiner's continued holding that

an application stands abandoned. c) The denial of an interference motion

by the primary examiner. ' d) An examiner's holding that certain

claims are not readable on the elected invention.


* * * * * * * * Part 3. Narrative (10 Points total)-

Each correct answer and reason is worth a total of two points. Points are deducted for incorrect answers, explanations, reasoning and irrelevant discussion.

51. M. Mouse, a citizen of France and a resident of Orlando, Florida, conceived a new machine in Orlando on April 16, l982 and reduced it to practice in Cleveland, Ohio on September 1, 1982. He filed an application for patent on the machine in the PTO on October 10, 1983. Consider each of the following situations separately. Indicate whether or not, each situation taken individually would prevent the issuance of a u.s. patent to Mouse. Give reasons for your answer.

A) (2 Points) The machine was disclosed to an audience of 100 persons by Mouse, the inventor, while speaking at a public meeting in Montreal, Canada on October 1, 1982.

B) (2 Points) The machine is disclosed but not claimed in a u.s. patent to Duck issued May 2, 1984, based on an application filed October 11, 1982 and claiming the benefit of an application filed in Germany on October 12, 1981.

C) (2 Points) Twenty-five machines were made, sold and delivered, all in Montreal, Canada by M. Mouse, the inventor, during the period September 20-September 30, 1982.

D) (2 Points) The machine was disclosed in a Canadian patent to J. Cricket on November 1, 1983 on an application filed September 9, 1982.

E) (2 Points) The machine was disclosed in an article by Mouse, the inventor, in a magazine published in France on October 11, 1982.

Morning Section Page Sixteen

NAAE

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE EXAMINATION FOR REGISTRATION TO PRACTICE

October 9, 1984

Afternoon Section (100 Points) Time: 3 Hours

TO PASS THE AFTERNOON SECTION OF THE EXAMINATION, YOU MUST OBTAIN A SCORE OF AT LEAST 70 POINTS.

NOTICE

Any examinee who passes the afternoon section of the examination but fails the morning section of the examination, will not be required to retake the afternoon section, provided the examinee takes and passes the morriing section of one of the next two succeeding examinations.

READ INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

Write your name in the place provided in the top right-hand corner of this sheet and the answer booklet supplied to you. You must also number and initial the upper right corner of all pages of your answer booklet on which your answers appears.

INSTRUCTIONS

Before proceeding, review the papers provided to assure

that they are complete. ---You should have the following items:

EXHIBIT A:

EXHIBIT B:

EXHIBIT C:

EXHIBIT D:

(3 pages) the specification of Application

Serial No. 000 including 1 sheet

of drawing and 2 claims.

(3 pages) U.S. Patent No. 3,016,763 to

Albert.

(4 pages) U.S. Patent No. 2,618,986 to

Hungerford (modified for test

purposes).

(1 page) drawing of an inflatable crib.

Answer each of the five questions following Exhibit D.

Treat each question independently of all others, and assume

no facts carry from one question to the other. The point

values for each question are indicated at the beginning of

each question.

Assume you are the registered patent agent who prepared

and filed the application in Exhibit A.

Note that question 5 is worth 30 points and is not

related to the other questions.

Points will be deducted for any claims written which are

indefinite, add new matter, contain poor English or any other

objection/rejection that would normally result in examination

of an application.

:17 /) • 2 ~- '-8.!!Jll.

21

13

~ic/.6. Jla. /..__) 22

EXHIRIT A - PA~E 1

1 AUl ClJSHION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

EMBODIMENTS

1. F~Ld of the lnventicm. Rde"in& more particularly to FlO. 1. rderen~:e nu· s merat 11 indicatel in aenerala handlebar srip embody·

This in~entk>n relatel lel\erally to ha!W:Jlebar a rip-., in& the feature-a of the invention llidably mounted upon ~tuch u thOle for bh::ydea, motorcycles, e~:erci.e the outer end of handlebar ll in well-known manner. devku, and the like.

2. Dncriptkln of the Prior Art. Th~ &rip II compriKI a tubular body. indi~:ated The ck>~cllt known handlebar &rip comprtacl a uabu- aenerally by reference numeral 13, luav&n& a central

lar bore sHdabk: onto a handlebar and havin& a lower 10 and lon&itudinally e1tendins bore 14 (fiG. l) for portion with fin&er-receivin& seallopa spaced tonsitu- 1lidably engasin& the outer end of the handlebar ll. din ally alone the lower outer ~turf ace and peripherally The outer end of the tubular body 13 i1 provided with a 1paced aroove1 extendin& k>n&itudinally in the other reduced openin& IS in the uiua1 manner to facilitate portioru of itt outer surface. Althouah such &rips are the alidable mounting of the grip on a handlebar. made of a witable material to make ~m lang l S The tubular body 13 ia made up of a lower portion 16 'IIi/caring. they are relativejy inelutic: ~nd transmit havinaa plurality of finger~receivin& &.callops 17 spaced ahocka lo the handa from the handlebar, frequently loneitudinally a.lo~g iu outer surlace. and i~de port~oas resultin& in pinchin& of the nenes of the hand, particu· 11. Aa best seen an FIGS. 1 and 3, thes.e &&de portions larly at the outer ends of the fint three metaearpala, 18 are provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced that is, thOle of the ball or the ~mb and the bue of 20 arooves 19 extendins longitudinally alona their outer the inde1 a..nd adjacent finaen. ThCJ.e are the median 1urface~, and each or the &ide portions 18 als.o may and ulnar nenet of the brachial plexua, the ball of the have a decorative raised or depreued portion lO, u thumb being 1upp1ied by the median nerve and the seen in FIGS. landS. ulnar nerve aupplyin& the inner di&it and a half on the The tubular body 13 of the grip II also lncludea an palmar upect. 2.5 upper portion ll diapo£Cd diametrically opposite the

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION finger-receiving acallops 17 of the lower portion 16 which is provided with an air-containing cavity or receu ll extending longitudinally of the &rip and

This innntion eliminates theac dandvanta&~ ot wcn disposed interiorly thereof. As best seen in FIGS. land prior ~rips, while employing the u.me scallopa and 30 4, the inner end of the cavity l2 is open. This air-con-peripherally &paced JfOOVe. on the aide IUrfaces, by Wning c.avity or rece55 l2 is defined by a bottom Wr· providing an upper portion of the &rip oppo~ite the face 13 which. u best seen in fiG. 5, is substet.ially finger-receiving aa.Hop1 with a.n air-containing cavity concentric with the bore 14. and a top surface l4 een-e~tt.endin& klnaitudinally thereof to cushion and ablorb 35 trally depreued lon&itudinally of the &rip (FIGS. 4 a.nd ahod.s and prevC!'t pinching of the nervea i~ the pal- 5) to present an outer or upper wall of the upper por· mar upect of a hand &rippin& the r.ame with the fingen tion 21 of varyin& thickneues with the thinnest outer ensaain& the aullopa. In thia connectton, it ii preferred wall portion~ at l5 alons the k>n&itudinally extendin& that the air--eont.aining cavity be shaped in tranavene front l.fld rear or lateral ends of the reeeu ll. Thete ~e;Ction to ~retent an ~uter wall o~ varyin~ th~kneues, 40 relatively thin outer wall portions l5 thu.a are located so ~tlh the thannet.t .pC>rtlOna ex.~~'".l k>n&ltu~a~ally ad- u to provide maximum cushion ina at the m01t vulner..,. ~ent the l.ate.ra~ edges of t.lllie cavaty ·to provid~ ma~- ble loa tiona· for a clenched hand which enaa&es the amum culluonana at. the moo vulnerabLe locauons an &rip II with the finaen dispoted in the &eallapa 17, the denched hand, a.e., the ball of the thumb at one such moit vulnerable locations ~:omprisin1 the ball of side a~d the outer end1 of the ~etacarpals or. the index 45 the thumb at one aide and the outer encb of the and mtddlc finaen at the oth~r Ade of the c:-VJty. . . metaca.rpab of the index and middle fin en at the

In the preferred emboduru:nt, the au-conwn•n& other mklc 1

cavity t1 closed at the outer end of the &rip a.nd open at 1 f'IG ·L • '11 t t_... · 11 th ~.,._ .... h

. .... . n . v t1 a us ra ~ a anp a u ano er emLil"UUa-t e lllner end &o me atmosphere. Another alluatrated t f ..... . .:.... . h' h el.. • ........... f .... _ . . . . men o "'.e anven'"""n an w u: ~.ne resas ... _... o LQIIP · embo<hment ancrei.K'I the resm.a.nce of the cuduon by . . ..

to · ,_ f ..... · d f.... ."' 50 cuahton effected by the cavaty-contaanana upper por-emp yana CIVBUre means or we open en o tne caVJ.1 • • • .

in the form of a rin& tc.cured to the inner end of the tiOn ll as ancreued by employtn& clown: means for the arip. open end of the cavity 22. this modifted lf'ip otherwiee

In the Drawin&s: bein& the nme u &riP II of ~1c;;s. 1-5. As illu1t~tc~d m fiG. I it an elevational vH:w of a ha.ndlebar &rip em- SS FlO: 6, su~h cloa~re mean~ " an t~e form of a ranal'

bodyin& the features of the in'denHon mounted on the havana an anner chameter a.ubitantia.lly the ume as the end portion of a handlebar~ diameter or the bore 14 and aecured to the inner end of

FlO. :1 il a vertK:al aection taken km&itudina.lly . the ~y 13 t.o c~ the inner end of the k>ngitudinaUy throuah the handlebar &rip of FJO. I; ezten~tn& recea :l~. .

FIG. 3 il an end elevat~n of the pip u aeen from the It wall be apprectated that any other au a table meaa left end of FIG. 2wbttantially aklnJ the linesl-3;

60 may be employed to acal the inner end or the air-eon·

FIG. 4 il an end e&evation a aun 1ubltantially alon1 wnin& cavity 22 instead of the rin& l6 when it il the linea4-tl offiG.l; de1ired to increue the reaiatance of the cushioned

FlG. 5 ila truavenc section throu&h the &rip aaacen upper portion 21. And it will be apparent that the in-aloaa the linea 5-5 of fiG. l; and 65 11tant handlebar arip may be made from .any wifa~&e

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a m.odifted form of material other than vinyl plutic material& • &rip with the inner end portion thereof ahown in verti- auch material~ that are readily available bein& well c111d ~ection. known by those skilled in the art.

EXHIBIT A

CLAIMS

I claim:

1. A handlebar grip comprising a tubular body adapted to be

received on a handlebar,

said body comprising oppositely disposed portions

extending longitudinally of said body, the portions

coristitutin~ upper and lower portions respectively,

said upper portion containing an air-receiving cavity

and

said lower portion having finger-receiving scallops.

2. A handlebar grip according to claim 1 wherein said

cavity continuously extends without interruption for

substantially the entire length of said body.

EXHIBIT A PAGE 3

Jan. 16, 1962 J. R. ALBERT

HANDGRI P FOR HANDLE BARS

Filed Sept. 28. 1959

.~

3,01

F.(9-B-INv£Nroit

..John R. Albert-

EXHIBIT B - PA~E 1

1 3,CU &,'Ui3

HANDGRIP FOR HANDLE BARS

2 in the nature of &mall, inwardly extendins fruuo-eonicaJ knobs terminating in handlc-eng.agina ftat, drculllr wr· bees or ends 28. Hence, it i11 seen that the crou-s.ec:tiona1 areA of each knob or protuberance %6 progressively de-

John R. Alber4 Pnmirie Vllla&e, Karu..., an;!aoor Co Te:s:· tile Robber Company, Bowdon., Ga., 111 corpon~~tioD

Filed Sept. 28, US9, Ser. No. 142,691 a crease11 11 the surface 28 thereof is approached. l CJalmi. (Cl. 74-551.9)

This invention relates to ba.nd,irlps broadly in the nature of liUl elongated, flexible tube used on rods, pipe1 and the like forming a part or handlea or handle bars, the primary !0 object being to provide novd means within and as an integral part of the handgrip for positively holding the ha.ndgrip in place, particularly when it is grasped in the band of the user.

It is the most important obje{;t of the present invention u to provide a handgrip having a plurality of. protuberances therewithin, each of which has a bandle-enaaging ~;urface of such nature as to iive the ume ~;ubst.antial hold-. in& power against the handle with which the wd surfaces

Noteworthy is the fact that the knobs 26 are arran~ed in longitudinal rows 30 e~tending longitudinally of the bandgrip 10. The rows JO of knobs 26 are ~&paced cir· cumferentially and completely surround the handle when the handgrip 10 is placed thereon. Furthermore, it is to be preferred that the knobs 26 of each row JO be stag-gered with respect to the knobs %6 o( the row JO next adjacent thereto as is quite evident in FIG. 1 of the drawing.

Jt is important to the auccess of the handgrip 10 that there be substantial contact between each surface 28 and the handle so that appreciable holding power is presented when the handgrip 10 is grasped by the operator. This i1 accomplished by providing the surfaces 28 on the knobt

engage. f Another important object of the in~;t.ant invention is

20 U and the combined effect of a large number of the surfaces 18 engaging the handle bar when the handgrip 10 is erasped by the operator is to bold the handgrip IO in place and prevent slippage of the same from the hand'e

the provision of a handgrip having the aforementioned attributes, :while at the n.me time conforming to the hand when grasped, thereby permitting the user to get a firmer · Jrip preventing s.lippage of the hand from the handgrip u u well as slippage of the handgrip itself from the handle.

Still another important obje{;t of the instant invention is the provision of a bandg:rip having the protuberance means aforementioned made and arranged to be completely effective as above explained, yet inexpensive to so manufacture by virtue of the fact that a minimum amount of material is needed for its manufacture.

lt is a further object of the instant invention to provide a ba.ndgrip including all of the features above set forth, yet made in a manner to permit manufacture through a 85 molding process and without difficulty from the na..ndpoint of removal of the finished uticle from !l'le mold.

In the drawin~ FlG. 1 is a longitudinal, cron-sectional Vte\'r tbroueh

a hand grip for handle· ban made purnuant to one form 4-0 of my present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line l-% of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a IQT1g.itudina.I, ,&ros.J-•ectional vjew through a second form of the invention. 46

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view ta..k.en through a third form of the instant invention.

FIG. 5 is a trs..osverse, cross-sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal, crolis-sectional view through 50 a fourth form of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view through still another embodiment of the invention. 65

The handgrip illustrated in FJGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing is broadly designated by the numeral 10 and is in the nature of an elongated tube of fte:~tible material preferably 'Ynthetic, and inck.lding any one of the moldable plastics presently available on the open market. 60

An opening 12 is provided in one end of the hand&rip I 0 for receivins a handle (not lihown) in the usual manner, and end wall 14 bas a vent opening 16 for evacuation of air u may be nece~ry or desirable when the hs..odgrip JO is to be ins.ened onto a handle. Reinforcing, ex.- 85 ternal beads 18 and :tO may be provided as desired. Furthermore, a plurality of finger-receiving undulations 2l as is quite common, facilitate a firm grip when the device 10 is grasped by the user.

The handgri·p 10 has an inner face %4 provided, in 70 accordance with the instant invention, with a plurality or preferably integral, spaced protuberances Ui that are

EXHIBIT B

bar, the latter of which is usually made from metal and has a 11lther slick. outer surface.

Since the knobs .26 are ~paced apart throughout the interior of the tubular device 10, the latter is rendered soft to the &rip and when grasped, the body of material from which the handgrip 10 i& made, will conform to the shape of the hand of the user. In other words, as grasping pressure is applied to the handgrip JO exteriorly there-of, a large number of the knobs 26 will be brought into firm holding, tight frictional contact with the handle, but at the nme time, the flexible material will yield between the protuberances 16 according to the shape of the band and pursuant to the pressure applied thereto, which of course, varies from end-to-end of the handgrip 10, u well u circumfere.ntiaUy thereof. ·

If desired, the attributes just above outlined might well be enhanced by followins a slight modification u ilfustrated in handgrip '0 in FIG. 3 of the drawing. The bandgrip 60 is in all respects identical with the handgrip 10 except that the knobs or protuberances 76 in the handgrip 60 are provided with handle-engaging, terminal smfaces '78 that are concave.

While the circular, peripheral edge of each wrface 78 iJ . rather &harp because of the concavity and the frustcrconical configuration of the knobs 7~. nonetheless. when the surfaces 78 engage the handle bar, the area of engagement is virtually throughout the entire surface 71 and, therefore, there is more than a mere line contact between each knob 7' and the handle. This is especially true when the pip 60 is uuped by the operator, and it is to be noted that the cont:=lvity of the wrlaces 78 creates 11 mction cup effect, thereby causing an even greater grip on the handle.

The suction cup principle is included also in handgrip UO shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawing. The knobs or protuberances 126 are provided w1th concave, handleengaging. terminal surfaces US in the nme manner a.ad for the same purpose u the surfaces 78 in FIG. 3.

The knobs 1%ti differ however, from the knobs %6 and 76 in that the same are undercut adjacent inner face 114 of tb J hand grip 110. Such undercuttinJZ. presents an annular groove Ul surrounding each knob or protubera.nce 116 respectively, adjacent the face 124. Hence, the bobs 1%6 progressively increase in cross-sectional area. u the rrurfa.ce Ul thereof is approached. It is preferred, as illustrated, that the side wall of each protuber!nce 1.26 which extends from groove 1.12 to the out~rmost ~:rcular periphery of the surface 1%8, be arched or trans-versely cunvex. ~is faci.H.tates removal of the device

PAGE 2

3 J 10 from the molc.i since the tnobt i.%6 will readily yield or flex and thereb; clear projectiozu on the mold fitting between the plurality of &paced-apart knoba U6.

Thl'! relatively -..mall, crou-aeclional area of the ll.nobi U6 at the ,-oove.s Ul thereof, u compared with the 6 appreciably larger crou-lectiona.J area of the surface~ 121, lenda flexibility to the kaobt U6 web that they properly eng&Je the handle and alw aus:ment the feature of my invention above outlined wilh respect to the handgrip conformins to the ihape of the band, depending in 10 part of coune, upon the extent and zones of pressure exerted in the eruping A.Ction.

FIGS. 6 and 7 o~ the drawins illurtnte an embodiment that comprises a bandlrip 1C3 wherein the protuberan.ces are in the nature of ribs 176 which, as in the 15 protuberances %6 and "16, proereuively decreas-e in cross-5ectionaJ area u ha.ndle-enpaing wrface. 178 ther'eof &re approached. In other ords, the ddea of the elongated, longitudinalJy extending riM 17' diverge as the inner face 17~ of tLe banr"grip 160 is approached. The 20 ribs 176 preferably rurround the handle when the band-· rriP 160 is placed thereon, and here a);lain, a ruction-cup effect is produced by virtue of the f~ that the surfacea 178 ue tn..nlvenely concave. Lon,Rudinally, however, the ifOOVes or surfaces 178 are maight. 215

In the modification illustrated by FlO. 8 of the drawf.Dg a band&rip 210 is provided with a plurality of protuberances or ribt U6 on inner face 2l~ that are annular and, therefore, surround the handle "·hen the uip 210 is placed thereon. As in the cue of the longitudinally ao extending ribs 176, the ribs ll6 are provided with bandleengag:ing, terminal surfaces %28 that are transversely concave to effect the ltlction cup action on the handle and present a surface of substantially lfe&ter area than mere line contact with the hl.lldle. It is apparent in FIG. 35 8 of the drawing that the CTO$S-sectiona.l area of each protuberance ll6 progreuively decreases as the rurface %%8 is approached, since the s.idea t:lereof di·,erge u the face 224 is approached.

Except for t.bc d.ifferencea above noted, tJ:.e various 40

EXHIB·IT B . -

forms of the baru!Jrip mustrated in the drawins.t may be substantially identical and it ia now quite obvious that the novel resull111 iuitially outlined hereinabove are at· tained irrespective of which form of the inventiou ia chosen by the mailufacturer thereof.

Havins thus described the invention what fa claimed u new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A bandtfip for a handle comprisinA; an eloi)J.!Ilted, hanc!:e-receiving tube of flexible material having an inner face prcvided with a JJiurality of spaced protuberances each having a handle-ensa&in& terminal surface to effect JUction c1.1p action on the handle and adapted to en~:ace thP. handle throu&}lout an area substantially greater than line contact with uid handle, each protuberance being undercut adjacent wd face of the tube.

2. A handsri? for a ha.ndle comprising an elongated, handle-receiving tube of flexible material having an inner face provided with a plurality of &paced knobs each having a concave handle-engaging terminal surface to effect suction cup action on the handle and adapted to engage the handle throughout an area substantially ~ter than line contact with said handle, each knob being undercut adjacent said face of the tube.

Rduenees Cited in the file of this patent

UNITED STATES PATENTS 38S,71S 391,253 476,424 58G,311

2,09J ,-458 2,666,340

19,602 of 1893

19,995 of 1902 330,243 804,757

Jeffery --------------- July 10, 1888 Latta ----------------- Oct. 16, 1888 Smith ------------------ June 7, 1892 Stein ------------------ July 13, 1897 Sleight --------------- Aug. 31, 193 7 HWlt ------------------ lllll. 19, 1954

FOREIGN PATENTS

Great Britain ---------- Aug. 18, 1894

. Great Britain ----------- July 23, 1903

Grut Britain ---------- June 2, 1930 France------------- Aus. 10, 1936

Nov. 1952

FIG. ·1

FIG 4

FIG. 5

FIG. 9

C. C. HUNGERFORD

H.lNDL.E BA.R GRIP

Filed March :50.· 1949

FIG- 8 -----------------A-----------~-

EXHIBIT C PAGE 1

12

FIG. 3

FIG. 10

2

I T :.111,118

RANDLE BAR GBJP.

DWe.l C. B~erford, ~n. N. J.., uaipor to Hllll.lufon:t PwUClll CorporaUon.ltoe.b.waJ, N. J.., a oorpo.raUon of New- Jenq-

Appllea.Uon Much 30, 1949, Serial No.IU11

"' CJ.BJ.ma. (CL 74--551..9) 1 2

The p~t tnventJon relata to ha.ndle bar FJ.s', 8 1! a sectJon.a.l view &bowi.Dg Jtll1 another i'l'iPs ruch u are tUed. on bicycle!, lawn mowers form o! construcUon; llld other implements hav~ handles required F!i. 9 1B an elevation partly in section of an-to be JT'8.81)ed by an operator when 1n use. other form of inP appllec1 to a handle bar; and

For m.a.ny yean such BTiPB have .been made 6 Pig. 10 1s a section taken on the line 1 I-ll from rubber or rubber compounds 1n the form of of Mg. 9. hollow tubu.la.r bodiea open at one end and usu- Rei erriJJ.g now more pa.rticu.la.r).y to the Jrip ally closed at the other and ~pted to be !lipped llhowu in l"igs. 1-5 the grip 1Da..1cated ienen.l.ly over the e.nd of a handle bar) which 1.s ordinari.ly at I I con.sist.s of an integral uwtary body of a hollow met.a..l tube, and to be retain.ed in pla.ce 10 molded thermopLastic mat.er.W. 'l'he bOdy liS gen-by frlctiona.l ens;ageme.nt. such grips, u here- eraJ..ly tubular and 1a tormed by a m&Ul will tofore and presently produced, are ~UbJect to portLOn 12 which 1n the emood.iment Wustrat.ed aeve.n.l deficiencies among the prlncipal ones or is formed to provide a contmuou.s cyJ.marical which are comparatively rapid deterioration and sectlon IC at the enct of the gr1p proviaect Wlth loas of el&sticlty uPOD exPQBure to the elemen~. 15 the opening fl. ActJa.cent the other enc1 of the le&.d..1ng frequently to the loss of the article, gnp t.ne wall 12 has a cll"cws.r portion II and rubbini off o! the 1urfa.ce layer of the m.a.tertal tJ:le clo&ed e.nd of t.be grip 1s n&rea to provide a (u.rua.l.ly bla.c.k) on the hands or the operator bwbou.s end portion U. lntermed.iat.e the per-when wet by ra.1.n or dampened with perspiration, Uons 14 and II the wall of t.ne gr1p 1.8 bwged to and marking of walls and the l.ike by rubbi.ni off 2o provlde a central ~rip portion n ot larger mam-of the rur!ace layer when the article such a.s a eter and between toe portJons a 4 ana II the bicycle 1.8 leaned uaJn.st a wall !or su.pport. Al8o, bw.ged portlon 1.6 corrugatea to provide a mu1t1-aince 1n practice cost 1s a material 1a.ctor, the pJ.!ctty of lOD.i"ltUd.l.n.aJJ.y extenu.m.g !C&llopa U quality of such articles 1n general use a re1a tive- w .b.lc.tlin the em DoCUment W ust.ra ted are ot ire&t-).y low. trequen t1y beJ.n.i compounded o! reworked u er rad.1a.1 depth cent.ra.lly of the grip tha.n at the ru bbe.r ba vms l&rie percen t.a.gea of 1llier such u end port1onts of th.e SC&J.J.ops w rucn meree into lA.ttlp-bla.ek i.Ocorpora ted there~ all of which the circular -portions II and 11. In the em-tend~ to a.ccintuat.e ~enclea aucb · u t.b.ose bodiment lliu.at.ntea the w&l.l I Z 1.8 of su.blta.ntt&l-noted. ).y uw.ronn th1c:k.ness ILlld 1.8 of rela t.lvel)' t11.1n

The general obJect of the preaent in ve.n tion 1.! so section. l'TOm t.b.e D&&e ll.Des Z I of tlle IC&llops to proYide a new IUld improved form of ~~trlP of t.hJ.n ribs Zl proJect raQially mward.ly. the raai&l-the kind under oon.side:r&.;tlcm which will not only J.y 1D.ner edgea of these ribs 1n tJ:ie emboa.iment u-el.tm.1na.t.e' the lihortcoiil1.l1i:s a! the presently av..U- l\l5tnt.ted bema straiiht lenitbvti&e of t.be riba l.ble ii'iP8 but which will also &1f ord new and and the riba e.xtendm.g 1n wa.rd.Jy so that the m-advant.&aeous features herei.n.alter to be more 35 scri.bed diameter 1.8 the same or subst.antia.lJJ' the fully pointed out. wh.Ue at the u.m.e time be· same u the mtema.l di&met.er of the port1on.a ll 1n.i no more expensive ths.n the present relative- I!Uld II. With tbis a.rra.ngement it will be seen ly in.!erlor product. To this end the 1nvent.ion from Fils. 2 and 3 ths.~ the ribs are of ms.ximum con templates the production of irl ps in the t orm radial eJC tent at the central part U of t.be bancile of molded ela.atic then:nopl.&stic material which 'o and gradu.ally decrease in hel.iht towara the eJ:lC1a embody novel ltructural tea. tures as Ulustn. ted of the .b.a.I:u:Ue until their in.ner edges muse wtt.b bf' way of u.ample but without llmJt.&tion 1n the the outer wall I Z. &eeompanyina' dnwin.ga formillg a part hereof The 1nterna.l diameter of the portions II and &nd. &bowing several at.ructural forms of the in- t I and the 1nscribed diameter of. the ribs U is Yentlon. •s made less th.a.n the eXt.ernal diameter of the bar

In the drawi.nga: to which the grip Is to be applied, the elutic Pig. 1 11 an elevation of a &TiP embodYini the nature of the material permitti.t:lg it to be

mve.nt!on: £tretched circumferentially and as shown 1n Pig. ~. 2 1.1 a eetton ta.ke.n on the line 2-2 of 61t will be seen tlut.t 1n the embodiment Wu.strat-

Pll. 1: 50 ed t.be ribs denect laterally to provide additional PJ&. :a is a ~~~eetion taken on the line a....-a of grippi.Dg surface and &llo over the bulged por-

Ptl. 1: tion of the IJ'ip to provide resilient or yielc.tin.i Pi&'. 4 ta a section taUn on t.be line C--4 of aupport for the outer will. Obviously the ;pe-

Plg. 2; c111c con11gurat1on of the scallops and of the rib Pig. 5 11 a section &1m.Ua.r to Fli. 2 ah.owinl a N atructure may be varied to provide other ape ..

iTfp applied to a haJ:ldle bar; clftc form.& for accomplishing the same general Pig. 8 1.8 a. fragmentary section similar to Flg. 4 obJect.

lhowi.n& a dllrerent deta.U of construction; In addition to the gripping action afforded by Pi&. 7 1a a fn.gment.uy section simllar to Fli. 8 t.be tubular portion of the grip, further frictional

ahow~ rt1.ll another form of construction; 10 contact with the bar on which the grip 11 mountec:i

F.:XHIBIT C PAGE 2

3 may be o'bt&J.ned by providing for l'riPI Neb u ride and ~1·'111"1ri"w, ~hJLonde··&CI!!ta&.e ~:~~po~fl.l:::ler t.ha t above deloel1 bed w1 t.h IIW in ten:W fi.Wlulu The tiller &n~e 31 extend.1.D.g llJd.a.lly innrdb' !rom the end Cm.&&nwum or c&ldum carbonate>. A U t.o ~ona.UJ Jrip the inner wrlace of t.be pre1erred. plUUeiur 11 dioet.yl aeb..cate, lu.lt&ble l:wllow !:wld.la bar II on w h1eh the irlP 11 1 altern& t.1 vea beJJli d.ioetyl I.Qlp&t.e, t.noctyl pbCM~• mmmt.:l. phate &nd d1 bu.t.)'l ~t.e. T.be ~bl.lJ.ur may

U JtJll more poCti'fe a t~ent of the lrlP to be lead at.earat.e or carbonate, barium &tan.te or the bar 11 de&red a form of eonst.ruet.ton web u t.he equivalent. Tbe lubricant, wb.Jcb 11 employed mown m P'li. 7 may be employed m whlch a pl~ PriOCJpally to &idin molding, may tor example 14 11 fon:n.&d proJecting inwardly from the cloaed 10 be a cutor oU derivative or ealclum 1tn.rat.e. eDd 21 for inlert!oo withill the tubu.l&r bar IZ. A formulation &Uch u t.be above proviciea the The PlUI 14 18 provided with a bore U ~h required propert.ies and particularly Lfford.l the wb.!cll is 1nse-rted a 5Cl'ew U t.be projeet.tng imler desired property of 1-em at n 1 ng re1a ti vel,y ~en &Dd end of. which ca.niea a wuber U and nut U. flexible at low tempen.tu.rea. Aho such a formu-

Aa will be evideDt from the drawinl wheD the 115 lation provtdea stl-bllity tor eolor 11 a colored ITiP 11 applied to the 'b&r and the nut adv&n.eed article 1a desired. it be1ni neee&sary to add oo.ly oo the aerew by tumins the external bead of the a small qua.ntity of &u!table colorant to the abovo latter the PlUI will be ax:1ally oompres.aed and formulatioo in order to JeCUre a homogeneously nd.W.ly expanded to form a frictional preamre colored. artJcle. Joc.k1.ng ITiP ~a.in8T t.he bar. 20 In some instan~ where low coat 11 a para·

Still another form of con.atructlon for tric- mount factor and a black article 11 aeceptable a t!oil.lllly &nc.horina the tufp oo a bar is lhown in suitable formulation u u tollowa: P1g. 8 wherein the eJ.reul&r porUom 14 &nd II of part; by weiibt the wall 8% ILr'e provided w1 tJl IIUl.Dule.r in temal Vin 1 reliJl 2 &ern.tions 44 and 41 which ldva.nta&eoualy are PW! ----------------------------- 9·5

of saw-tooth form with the teeth pointed out- ~ r ----------------------------------- 19 wardly toward the respective ends of the tufp u ~!:tlcizer --------------------------- 2i lnd.i ted 1 P'1i 8 bi.l1z.er ------------------------------- 2.3 .r: &eD::al f~~ of eon.Jtructioo cootemplated ~~rica.ot ----- ... ---------------------- 0.7 may also be readily applied in ma.k1ni other boo blae~ --------------------------- 19.5 JPecltlc forms of irlP aod by way of example 30 In the above formulation the aeveral 1l:lgredi-t.here 1a shown 1n Flp. S and 10 a form in which enta may be of the nature previously indicated the m&1n wall a I of the irlP 11 provided on tta except t.b&t a less upengive pl&sticiz.er web u underside with a senea of tran.svenely extenciJ.Dg a m.ixtu.re of trioctyl phosphate and a petroleum COI'l"Ugation.s U providing between them ftneer

35 derivative such w:s Solvaloid may be emplo7ed.

irlP ~ 10. As will be evident from the The ditference betweeo the formulations above ft~ the cross section of the wall f 2 1! non- liven is that the latter 18 not ISO color itable u circular and the i.Dtem.al ribbing 1s d.U'ferent at the former and is leas ISOft and pliable at low difierent part.! of the grlp, the loDiitudf.rial ex- tempera.tu.res. Both, however, provide the re-tend!Dg ribs being extended only partially around qu!red resllieoce and have the cb.a.ra.cter11tic of the c1reumference of the irfp which 11 only par .. 40 pl&stic memory which enablea articles of the !orm tW.ly tiuted. In th1a embodiment the buliil::lg hereinbefore described rea.d.ily to be molded by of the irlP 1a om.l tt.ed .a that tbe -rille U ue of known 1DJ eetion mold.irli method~, lll1nce a.tter mbatant11Llb uniform r&dW extent over UWr mold.J.o&' Jf the &rticle 11 ~tripped from the mold. entire length, Join1nl at their ends the circu.l&r before eool.il:la' to non:c.al temperature the dtJ .. end portion~ 14 l.nd 11. '5 tort1on reQuired to strip tt will be e1.1.min&tec1 by

On the under or tm~er tufp side loogitud1nally the automatic action of the material retu.rn.l.Da' to extendJ.ni ribs may be provided or u shown in ita molded form. ~. S the riba may be interrupted loDiitudinally Prom the fo;eioina it will be evideot that with· to pro11de a lerlea of rib-l!.te proJectiooa lk. 1n the scope of the 1Dventlon many di!fermt

Aa will be ob.le:rved from the forego ina the 60 ~c COntiiUl"i. tiona of irlP may be made and eonnruetJ.on provides a rrfp ba v1na' re1a tively diti eren t 11pec!Ac ! orm ula tioJU o! ma t:.erlall x:ll.llY little materl&.l while at the u.me time provi.dtna be employed. The mveotion 11 aecordilJgly to a structure wh1ch will arml1 irlP a bar or the be understood u embn.cl.Dg all &rlJcles !~ like and w bich moreover can rM.dib' be molded 'tii'1 thin t.be aeope of t.be appended cl.iJ.m.l. to provide an int.eanl one-piece utiele when 65 What I claim: m.&de !rom m.atutal of the Jd.nd contemplated 1. A h&nd iriP for ha.ndle ban compri.l1ng a by t.be preaeDt J.nveot.ton. . tubular hand &TiP member made of a plutic

Inlofar u the present tnvmtlon is concerned material .elected from tbe clau con&ati.na of numerous thermoplastic mat.eriah a.re an.U&ble polyvinyl chloride and. polyvinyl chloride-acetate which will produce u tilf&eto'r/ reault.l. 80 copolymer.

I have found from practical experience, how- 2. A &Tip &8 dei5Jled m claim 1 1n wh!cb tbe ever, tb.a t a moat u tW&e t.on ma ter1a1 1! a t.her- material cons.J.sts of polyvinyl chloride. moplutlc compounded with a 'rinyl ram bale 3. A irlP u de11ned in claim 1 in whkb the of wb.ich t.he formulatloo g1ven below by way of material cona!st:.s of polyvinyl chloride-acetate example but without 11mltat1oo u very I'Uit.able. 16 copolymer.

Partl by weight

~ ~ ------------------------------ s. ~er ----------------------------------- 10 PluUdRr --------------------------- 33.3 StabtUJer ------------------------------- 2 Lubrieant ------------------------------- 0.7

4. A grip for handle ba.n eomp~ a un!t&rf body of a plutic material of the cluB cowst.stt.Dg of polyvinyl chloride &Dei polyvinyl chloride-acetate copolymer, Aid body h&vina' a tubular por-

TO tion opeo at one end, said tubUlar portion h&vinl a rela.ti vely th1D wall and mcluc1!n& an outwudJJ' bulled 1n termed.i& te part, II.Jld proJeetJona extend.Jng rad.iallJ inwardly from aod lennhwtae of

In the above formulation the resin may be ~e- the bulied part adapted to yteldably en.r&re the leet.ed from the el.t.tsi eo~ of pol,yv1nyl chlo- Tl bar to which the ertP is attac.b..ed.

EXHIBIT C PAGE 3

s 5. A !rfip u defined in claim 6 in which the

wall of nl.d tubular portion 11 of amMt&ntLally uniform wLll thJemeu.

IW"faoe, Aid pluUe element blfnl mAde from a plutie .elected. trom tb8 clua co~ of polJYlnll ehloride IIZU1 po~ chlof1de .. &cetat.l CO• polfmer.

Tbe following reference~ are ot record m the me of th.1J patent:

6. A grip !or handle btn compri.lini a unitar7 molded body ot a plutio matui&l of t.hl clau 5 eonliltf.ni of pol.Jvinyl chloride and polntn11 ehloride-acet.ate copolymer, l&ld bodJ h&vtnl a tubular portion open at one end, wd tubular portion hl.vtnr a relativeJ.y th1n w&ll of amblt&nU&Uy unJ!orm wall th1ckne31 and inelu.d.inr an

IO UNITED STATES PATKNTS m termed! ate put one portion of the perlpbef'1 or which b provided with lonaituc1JJ:W..ll' extendtnr p.roJ ectJonJ~ exten~ ra.d1&Uy in w&rd.l1 and adapted to ;rieldabJ.y ellitfl.ie the bar to wbieb the &rrip 1JS atta.cbed lllld another portion of the pe- u riphery o! which 11 tormed to provide a plurality of tra..nsver&ely extendinl corru.ratiows providing finger grips tor the tingen ot the tuer.

7. In combination with a hl.od.le bar, a hand rrip element, said lundle bar com~ a me .. tallic member bavin.i a amoot.h outer llU'f&ee, said band irtp element eomprWnr a tubular plastic element telescoped over the end of the bar and arn.nred to frictionally irlP l&id smooth

Number 476,~4 Q2JS1

1,.295,627 1,421,098 1,&85,0'78 2,4M,719,

EXHIBIT G PAGE 4 '· . . .

Name Date Smith ---------- Jt.me 'l, 1192 Pratt ------------ Jul.J J, 1.900 Sommer ------- Peb. "· une PblllJps ----------June 27, 1Da2 Pink ______ " ______ Dec. 8, 1925

Kr.e!Cnrtn ------- Apr. U, 1HD POREION PATENTS

CotmtrJ Date oreat Brlt&Ln .............. JWJ' J, 1891 Great Brit&!D ............. MA1 21, 1931

... ' ·. :· . II' • •

I I I

\ \ .,

...... ,.

~~

0 ;89 0 6 /<l-,!7 0 ~

!l ~ ~ .. ,_

............... --. '

EXHIBIT 0

/n flo. f rt.h le Comf t ttr tnf 11fs

QUESTIONS

Consider each of the following questions

separately.

1.) (20 Points) The Examiner has rejected claim 1 under 35

u.s.c. 102(b) as anticipated by Albert. (The spaces between

projections 26 in Figures 1 and 2 are deemed to be cavities) .

Amend claim 1 to avoid this rejection and any possible

rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102 as anticipated by Hungerford of

record. Do not cancel claim 1 and write a new claim, but use

the methods provided for under 37 CFR 1.121.

2.) (30 Points) The Examiner has rejected claim 2 under 35

U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable ave~ Albert in view of

Hungerford. The Examiner has held that it would be obvious

to one of ordinary skill in the art to make the cavities

between projections 26 in Fig. 1 of Albert extend

continuously without interruption for the length of the grip

in view of the continuous cavity between grip 10 and

handlebar 32 in Fig. 7 of Hungerford. Wri~e a reply to this

rejection in the form of a request for reconsideration

without amendment.

2

3.) (10 Points) After you received the first Office action,

the inventor supplies you with a list of. twenty-five U.S.

Patents which he received from a professional search service.

All of the references were found in the same class and

subclass as the references-cited by the Examiner. What would

you do with such information, if anything. Be specific and

give reasons for your actions or lack of action.

4.) (10 Poirits) After the first Office action, the inventor

informs you of his opinion that grips made of vinyl plastic

material are superior to others because they are longer

wearing and better absorb shocks. He suggests that you amend

the claims to include this feature to make.them allowable.

How should you respond to him?

5.) (30 Points) Write a claim to the inflatable crib shown

in EXHIBIT D without regard to any prior art and including at

least the indicated features (i.e., straps, openings,

inflatable compartments) . Words you select to identify

features must be used for their ordinary meanings. For

grading purposes, insert after each feature recited in your

claim the reference numeral of the feature in EXHIBIT D e.g.

11 bottom panel (12)" .. (NOTE: To aid in understanding the

device, note that member 10 is an integral one piece body

composed of a bottom panel·l2 and four upstanding side panels

13. Member 11 is a detachable top section.)

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