Appeal No. 1998-0695
Application 08/400,320
contacting the inner surface of the bearing sleeve and axially
contacting the upper and lower bearing contact surfaces,
respectively; and
a shaft/hub assembly, supported by the inner races of the
upper and lower ball bearing assemblies,
the shaft/hub assembly including a radially extending
flange portion having a lower surface in proximity to an upper
surface of the outer race of the upper ball bearing assembly
and having an outer surface in proximity to the inner surface
of the bearing sleeve, so that a labyrinth seal is formed
between said flange portion of said shaft/hub assembly and
said outer race of said upper ball bearing assembly and said
inner surface of said bearing sleeve.
The examiner relies on the following references:
Crapo 4,858,044 Aug. 15, 1989
Elsasser et al. (Elsasser) 5,001,581 Mar. 19, 1991
Tanaka et al. (Tanaka) 5,256,922 Oct. 26, 1993
(Apr. 8, 1992)
Claims 1 and 6-9 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103.
As evidence of obviousness the examiner offers Crapo in view
of Elsasser and Tanaka with respect to claims 1 and 6-8, and
only Crapo and Tanaka with respect to claim 9.
Rather than repeat the arguments of appellant or the
examiner, we make reference to the brief and the answer for
the respective details thereof.
OPINION
We have carefully considered the subject matter on
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