Appeal No. 97-2035
Application 08/161,234
examiner maintains is the tapered load bearing surface. We
disagree. The entire contoured face 20, including the
portions surrounding the angled slots, constitutes the load-
bearing surface in Coughlin. Note that in column 4, lines 41-
44, of Coughlin, it is stated: “It is this surface 20 of
assembly 10 that is adapted to confront the rotating recording
surface of the disk and interact with the air bearing layer to
provide assembly 10 with its flying characteristics.”
Moreover, it is not seen how the tapered slots of Coughlin can
be used to carry out their intended functions as the loud-
bearing surface without the presence of the load bearing
surface portions surrounding them. In our view, the load
bearing surface of Coughlin cannot reasonably be regarded as
solely the portion between the slots. Accordingly, Coughlin’s
load bearing surface is not tapered “with its narrow end
facing into the relative motion of the magnetic recording
disk” as is recited in claim 7. Both ends appear to have the
same width. In any event, even if it is assumed for purposes
of argument that only the angled-slots section constitutes the
load bearing surface, the presence of the outer portions of
contour face 20 would seem to keep the tapered load bearing
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