Appeal No. 97-1758 Page 14
Application No. 08/326,721
planar movement perpendicular to the first direction, but
substantially no rotational movement, between the nut assembly
and the carriage.” (Appeal Br., App. A at 3.)
Jadrich generally teaches a “leadscrew” assembly 10
comprising a leadscrew 12 and a leadscrew drive nut 14 mounted
thereon. Col. 2, ll. 64-66. A coupler plate 16 is disposed
around and connected to the nut to transfer motion from the
nut to a movable carriage. An intermediate member 22 is
connected to the plate by a pair of flexure members 28, which
are fixed at opposite ends to the member and plate. Col. 2,
l. 64 to Col. 3, ll. 1-15.
Comparison of the claim language to the reference’s
teaching evidences that Jadrich would not have suggested the
claimed flexure. The claimed flexure provides “substantially
no rotational movement, between the nut assembly and the
carriage.” (Appeal Br., App. A at 3.) In contrast, the
reference’s flexure members “permit relative movement of the
intermediate members about axes 30 and 36. . . .” Col. 3, ll.
34-36. We appreciate the examiner’s observation that
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