Appeal No. 2000-0655 Page 5
Application No. 08/522,017
nose portion 536 on an annular bushing 550, the latter thus performing the function of the
appellants’ pilot member 36. Bushing 550 and adjacent annular member 552 are installed
in an enlarged portion of the housing, seated on a flange 554 on the end of the housing
and the inner surface of the attached conduit 564. According to Bartholomew, “bushing
550 and the [adjacent] elastomeric sealing member 552 . . . form a fluid tight seal”
between the inner wall of the fluid housing and the outer periphery of the fluid handling
member which is being inserted (column 18, line 36 et seq.). Bartholomew does not
explicitly teach that the bushing is guided or needs to be guided into place during its
installation in the housing, or that it needs to be or is locked into place once installed.
Berry discloses a liner for the end of a conduit for electrical conductors which
provides a smooth entry for the conductors. The liner comprises a cylindrical tube having a
flange at one end which engages the end of the conduit. A plurality of flexible fins 20 are
installed on the outside surface of the liner. The fins extend outwardly and are of such
height as to engage the inner surface of the conduit when the liner is pressed into place.
As described in the specification, the fins project
a sufficient distance to provide a locking action when the liner is inserted into
the conduit . . . [and are] sufficiently thin to collapse or bend to have one side
substantially flush with the outer surface of the liner and the other side
substantially in contact with the inner surface of the conduit to secure or lock
the liner to the conduit. (column 2, lines 54-60; emphasis added).
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