Appeal No. 2005-0141
Application No. 09/656,683
Balsells discloses a cartridge bearing for reciprocating shafts
wherein a spring 22 causes a tubular bearing element 12 and shaft
16 to float within a surrounding housing 30 (Fig. 1). Thus,
Balsells neither relates to rotatable shafts nor a coil spring
that prevents rotation of a bearing body. Accordingly, as we see
it, one having ordinary skill in the art would not have derived a
suggestion from the Balsells’ teaching for replacing the
corrugated spring member of Beavers with a coiled member. It is
for this reason that the rejection of claim 1 cannot be
sustained. We have also reviewed the other two references
applied by the examiner. However, we find that the Nogle
reference (coil spring 30, 34 for resiliently maintaining
concentric alignment in a self-aligning bearing) and the Ide
patent (a plurality of spaced wheels provide for inhibiting
rotation of a bearing relative to a stator, Fig. 2, or a
structural spring configuration provided by cantilever beam-like
extensions 42 and feet 43 inhibit rotation, Fig. 13) also would
not have been suggestive of a coiled spring for preventing
rotation of a bearing body. As to claim 4, in particular, it is
quite clear to us that the Ide teaching of spaced wheels would
not have been suggestive of a plurality of spaced apart coiled
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