Maybe this is dumb question and maybe I should heed emtnester's advice about keeping one's mouth shut as not to remove all doubt of ignorance of the subject matter on the floor but....

It's seems strange to me when I consider Thaden's patents being issued in 1984-87 and Charles Moore's/Fish patents (336, 584, et al) being issed in 1998 and it took the industry's EE's 12-14 years to improve upon the technology.

If the technology of the 336 et al existed in prior inventions already patented and the claims of the 336 was that obvious, then why did it take that long to improve upon, produce or invent something better?

OK, I've now, without a doubt, removed all doubt...;-)

Regards,
PxP