Appeal No. 2002-1477
Application No. 09/544,849
The disclosed invention relates to the mounting of discs of a
disc drive in a fixed radial relationship to the hub of a spindle
motor. Spring elements having a C-shape in axial cross-section,
and which are curved on a radius greater than the radius of the
central opening of the discs, are utilized to grip the upper and
lower surfaces of the inner part of the disc. According to
Appellants (Specification, page 5), the curved spring elements
maintain the disc in a fixed predetermined position relative to the
spindle motor hub, thereby preventing shifting of the discs
relative to the hub due to differential thermal expansion.
Claim 14 is illustrative of the invention and reads as
follows:
14. In a disc drive comprising:
a spindle motor having a rotatable hub;
at least one disc; and
means for mounting said at least one disc to said hub;
the improvement comprising: improved means for mounting said at
least one disc to said hub.
The Examiner relies on the following prior art:
Nishimura JP 03242857 A Oct. 29, 1991
(Published Japanese Patent Application)1
1 A copy of a translation provided by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
(September 2001) is enclosed with this decision.
2
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