Appeal No. 2000-2180 Page 6
Application No. 08/919,866
compact construction (column 1, lines 28 and 29) and relatively few parts so that the saw
operates with precision while being of low cost (column 2, lines 3-6). In keeping with these
objectives, Bennett describes the functions of the bearing ring as being “to provide
abundant stability and also seal the movable members to keep them free of dust”
(Abstract), and “[i]n addition to providing a bearing the bearing ring and accompanying
structure also serves as a seal to exclude cuttings, sawdust, and dirt from the space
inwardly thereof, identified in part by the opening 24" (column 3, lines 43-47). Bennett fails
to disclose or teach the roller bearing arrangement recited in the appellants’ claim 1.
In the Barton saw the turntable is supported for rotation about a vertical axis by
means of a plurality of ball bearings 98 contained within an annular groove (unnumbered)
defined by the fixed and rotatable elements of the device (see Figure 3). Other than
describing the bearings as being combined thrust and journal bearings (column 3, line 51),
Barton sets forth no advantages of this construction. The examiner’s position appears to
be that Barton would have suggested to one of ordinary skill in the art that bearings
capable of handling thrust and journal loads are known to be used in place of the bearing
disclosed by Bennett, which the examiner apparently believes does not have such a
capability, thus opening the door for other thrust-and-journal bearings such as the roller
arrangement of Bando to be used in Bennett.
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