Appeal No. 2000-0653
Application No. 08/960,433
with a convex shape form is to prevent striking of a
peripheral edge of the shaft end with the surface of the
insert member 8, without having to engage in high precision
machining to obtain a high degree of square on the end surface
of the shaft and the thrust receiver surface (column 1, lines
64 through 68 and column 2, lines 17 through 22 and 32 through
35).
Distinct from the apparatus of the Kameyama patent, the
McQuaid reference teaches an end thrust ball bearing wherein
the end of a rotary shaft 9 (Fig. 1) or a rotatable plate 26
as in Fig. 6 (engaged by the end of a rotary shaft) is
continuously engaged with a ball 8 positioned in a recess or
seat 22 of a plate 19.
Considering the circumstances that Kameyama and McQuaid
may fairly be said to teach alternative thrust bearing
arrangements, i.e., fluid bearing vs. ball bearing, and that
Kameyama expressly discloses making a convex thrust receiver
surface 32 a part of an insert member 28, it is our opinion
that one having ordinary skill in the art would not have
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