Appeal No. 1997-0854
Application No. 08/292,846
controlling air flow to the air heaters and for controlling
the actuation of the reciprocatable tools, comprising steps
of:
adjusting a time period setting in the controller based
on a predetermined thermal energy required to soften the
studs;
heating the studs with the heaters for the adjusted time
period by providing a limited time period of moving air
through the air flow device as controlled by the controller;
after the step of heating, forming the studs with the
tools as controlled by the controller; and
repeating the step of adjusting as required for
additional workpieces.
The examiner relies upon the following references as
evidence of obviousness:
Wells 3,308,225 Mar. 7, 1967
Loren 4,633,559 Jan. 6, 1987
Appellants' claimed invention is directed to a method of
connecting workpieces together via hot staking. The method of
claim 25 employs reciprocatable tools, or dies, for shaping
and forming studs of thermally softenable material, and
provides for the continuous cooling of the reciprocatable
tools with a fan-generated stream of air through a plenum.
Independent claim 29, as well as independent claims 32
and 36, do not recite the step of continuously cooling the
reciprocatable tools. Claim 29 requires the use of a
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