Appeal No. 98-1455 Page 7
Application No. 08/625,936
right of the right side plate 102. It is our opinion that the
claimed "integrally formed extruded flange extending outwardly
from the body" is readable on this flange of De Rose. As to
claim 17, the thickness of this flange of De Rose is clearly
capable of being between about 50% and about 150% of a wall
thickness of a torsion member inserted into the hub 103.
The argument presented by the appellants (brief, pp. 7-
11) with respect to claim 16 does not convince us that the
subject matter of claim 16 is novel. In that regard, we must
point out that the claimed subject matter is the linkage
member per se, not the combination of the linkage member,
torsion member and weld seam as set forth in claims 1 through
15. It is our determination that De Rose's hub 103 (i.e., the
collar means) is inherently capable of equalizing mass of one
of the side plates 102 (i.e., the body) with respect to a
torsion member adjacent a weld site for attaching the side
plate to the torsion member. The appellants argue that De
Rose does not teach welding the hub 103, and more specifically
the flange of the hub, to the torsion member to secure the
side links 102 thereto. While this is true, we must point out
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