Appeal No. 96-1301
Application 08/175,078
Appellants argue that the magnetic fields in Hawsey are
anti-directional, because in the Hawsey device the central
member acts as a magnetically insulating yoke so as to prevent
magnetic fluxes from passing through the central member. The
appellants point out that in the present invention the central
member is such that the magnetic fluxes are passed through.
(Brief, at 9).
Appellants appear to suggest that the language of
appellants’ claim 1 requires the magnetic flux to flow through
the central member. We do not interpret appellants’ claim 1
so narrowly. Appellants’ claim 1 recites a rotor with a
central member having two faces. Magnet pieces are connected
to both faces of the central member such that the polarities
of the magnet pieces on the first face are co-directional to
that of the magnet pieces on the second face. As recited in
claim 1, “the polar orientation of said magnet pieces [on the
opposite faces]... is co-directional”. Thus, the claim merely
requires that the polar orientation of the magnet pieces on
the opposite faces be co-directional and does not further
specify whether magnetic lines of force can pass through the
central member. Depending on the make-up or nature of the
central member, magnetic flux lines may or may not be passed
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