Appeal No. 97-0752
Application 08/354,304
recognized cured silicone rubber composition in crumb form as
being a material suitable for transmitting torque when
sufficiently compressed.
We also do not agree with the examiner’s finding with
respect to the Moore patent. Moore pertains to a torque
transmitting coupling between an outer tubular shaft 11 and an
inner tubular shaft 12. The primary torque transmitting
mechanism is a pair of rubber sleeves 14, 15 provided in an
annular space between the shafts. These sleeves are bonded to
the inner shaft and are under radial compression (column 3, lines
1-7). As explained by Moore, “[i]nitial application of torque
between the universal joints 10 is transmitted solely via the
rubber sleeves 14, 15, but when a predetermined degree of
torsional deflection is exceeded torque is additionally
transmitted in parallel with the sleeves by means of a buffer
unit 16” (column 3, lines 8-13). Buffer unit 16 comprises a
female spider unit 18 integral with the outer shaft 11 and a male
spider unit 17 welded to the inner shaft 12. The male spider
unit and the female spider unit are formed of metal (column 3,
line 31; column 4, line 12) and are constructed in a manner
-5-
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007