Appeal No. 95-4860
Application No. 08/044,923
relative to the first shift 11 or (2) the second pressure
plate 41 was rotated so that it would advance along the
threads 19 on the end of the second shaft 12. There is,
however, no enabling disclosure of a mechanism which would
accomplish either of these alternatives. To the contrary, the
specification sets forth it is the hexagonal nut 48 (which is
received in a hexagonal recess 47 in the second pressure plate
41) which is threadably engaged with the threads 19 (see page
9, lines 13-21) and, in describing the interaction between
these elements, states that:
The rotation of inner shaft 12 causes threads 19 on
the interior end thereof to be advanced within nut
48. The advancement of nut 48 and threads 19
decreases the distance between front pressure plate
41 and rear pressure plate 40. [Page 11, lines 3-6;
emphasis ours.]
The above description clearly describes the nut 48 as being
threadably coupled to the shaft 12 and further suggests that
the pressure plate 41 is simply loosely mounted on shaft 12 so
that advancement of the nut 48 along threads 19 will cause the
pressure plate 41 to be moved toward pressure plate 42.
Claims 18-22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112, second
paragraph. In order to satisfy the requirements of the second
11
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