Appeal No. 1998-0861
Application No. 08/542,231
limiting means during tool application” (Abstract), however,
Swanson is silent as to whether the ribs deform upon
application of excessive torque by the tool. Williamson
discloses a deformable locking collar/nut 24 that includes a
hexagonal-shaped central portion 34 and a deformable head
portion 36 (Figure 2). The examiner’s contentions to the
contrary notwithstanding (Answer, page 4), the hexagonal-
shaped central portion 34 of the nut is not engaged by the
installation tool 20, and it is not deformed during
installation of the nut onto the bolt 26. During installation
of the nut 24 onto the bolt 26, the tool 20 twists the
deformable head portion 36 to force the material of the head
portion into the recesses 27 of the threads of the bolt 26 to
thereby lock the nut and the bolt (Abstract, column 3, lines
60 through 62; column 4, lines 24 through 33). The deformable
head portion 36 of the nut 24 in Williamson is not an over-
torque limiting means. Turning lastly to Blaha, we agree with
the examiner (Answer, page 5) that “Blaha (‘139) does not
disclose the polygonal shaped element being deformable such
that the corners will deform at a predetermined torque.”
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