Appeal No. 2001-1895 Page 5
Application No. 09/235,180
In FIGS. 7-7A . . . the apertures 48 and clutch plate 44 are still aligned with
and in contact with the outer diameter surface of large diameter portion 82 of
the spring pin assemblies 66 and will remain in contact therewith during
continued axial leftward travel of the clutch plate 44 for an axial distance 130
equal to about 0.045-0.075 inch. Simultaneously, the ramped portions 104
of the set of apertures 46 have contacted the ramps 98 on the spring pin
assemblies 64 intermediate the small diameter portion 70 and the
intermediate diameter portion 72 thereof. During the next axial leftward
travel of distance 130, the ring and pin assembly 128 is not free to rotate
sufficiently to cause apertures 46 to circumferentially align with intermediate
diameter portions 72 of pin assemblies 64. Accordingly, further axial
movement of the clutch collar 44 in the leftward direction from the position
shown in FIGS. 7-7A will cause axial displacement of the sliding collar 108
against the bias of spring 114, which will result in urging of the synchronizer
ring and synchronizer pin assembly 128 leftwardly to urge the conical friction
surfaces of synchronizer ring 52 into frictional contact with the corresponding
surface 56 of cup 60 associated with gear 18 . . . . (emphasis added).
It is our opinion that this explanation, and particularly the final seven lines quoted above,
supports the conclusion that at some point during movement of the clutch collar over the
distance 130 the facing friction surfaces on elements 52 and 60 are placed into frictional
contact with one another and the synchronizing of the shaft with the second gear begins.
Since the clutch collar does not move off of large diameter surface 82 until after distance
130 has been traversed, Morscheck appears to operate in accordance with the
requirements of claim 6, including step (d), and thus the reference anticipates the subject
matter recited in the claim.
In arriving at this conclusion we have carefully considered the appellants’ argument.
However, we agree with the examiner that the reference cannot be discounted simply
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