Appeal No. 1998-2064
Application 08/710,551
(translation, page 3, lines 4-6). The drive includes a motor
driven worm 9 and a worm wheel 8 in engagement with the worm.
Worm wheel 8 includes an internally threaded opening that is
in engagement with an externally threaded end of a spindle 10
(translation, page 3, lines 7-12). Presumably, worm 9
rotatably drives worm wheel 8, which in turn causes the
spindle 10 to move axially. As shown in Figure 1 of Markus,
worm wheel 8 is mounted in a bearing assembly that includes
spring washers 4, 5. Markus states the following with respect
to this mounting arrangement:
By means of axial sets of springs (4, 5) on both
sides of the lower bearing (2), an axial
displacement of the worm wheel (8) from a central
position may take place in a spring-mounted manner.
[Translation, page 3, lines 16-19.]
It is the examiner’s position that it would have been
obvious “to provide spring means to mount the Becker female
nut 74 and housing 8, 10 following the teachings of Markus in
order to absorb shock loads to the transmission elements”
(final rejection, page 2). With respect to the placement of
the impact absorbing means between the lower surface of the
6
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Last modified: November 3, 2007