Appeal No. 97-1449
Application 08/395,214
its length and is uniformly made from a material having the same
hardness value throughout the boot, 2) the boot stretching member
is coupled to the boot, and 3) the stretching member (20) is a
rod.
Claims 1, 2, 7, 9, 14 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C.
§ 102(b) as being anticipated by Fukawa. Fukawa discloses a
holding apparatus or chuck assembly wherein such assembly
includes a housing (3, 5) having an open end and defining a
passageway in communication with the open end; a hollow elastic
boot or bag member (4) defining an entry hole at the top end
thereof, and an inner surface, wherein the boot material is
elastic, wherein the boot when stretched decreases in cross-
sectional dimension, and wherein the boot engages the housing,
whereby the hollow portion of the boot is in communication with
the passageway; and a movable, boot stretching member (10, 6)
disposed in the passage-way and adapted to engage the inner
surface of the boot, wherein movement of the stretching member in
a direction to stretch the boot decreases the cross-section
dimension of the boot, thereby permitting insertion of the boot
into the substrate/work piece (1), and wherein movement of the
member in the opposite direction increases the cross-sectional
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