Appeal 2006-2712
Application 10/745,095
have been cancelled. We have jurisdiction over the appeal pursuant to 35
U.S.C. § 6(b) (2002).
The claims are directed to normally open clutch assembly controllable
to modify rotational speed required for actuation. Claim 1 is illustrative:
1. A normally open clutch assembly comprising:
a clutch cover attachable to a rotatable input member;
a friction disk;
a pressure plate rotatable with said clutch cover and movable
axially between a clamped position engaging said friction disk and an
open position;
a plurality of weights movable responsive to rotation of said
normally open clutch assembly to move said pressure plate between
said clamped position and said open position; and
a front plate and a back plate defining a radial space within
which said plurality of weights move, said front plate movable to
adjust a rotational speed at which said pressure plate moves to said
clamped position.
The Examiner relies on the following prior art reference to show
unpatentability:
Markyvech US 2002/0137596 A1 Sep. 26, 2002
The rejections as presented by the Examiner are as follows:
1. Claims 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as being anticipated
by Markyvech.
Appellants contend that there is no disclosure in Markyvech that
provides for adjustment of the engine rotational speed at which the clutch
engages.
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