Appeal No. 1998-1794
Application 08/738,467
portion of the spindle hub and the magnets 28 are carried on
an outer surface of 20.
Appellant argues that "instead of employing bearings as
set forth and claimed in Appellant's invention, Hajec uses a
ferro-fluid lubricant which is held in gap 26 between shaft 18
and sleeve 20" (Br7).
Claim 9 recites "bearing means," not any particular
bearing structure. We find the ferrofluid bearing in Hajec
equivalent to the disclosed ball bearings.
For the reasons stated above, Appellant fails to show
that the anticipation rejection of claim 9 is in error.
Claims 10 and 12 stand or fall together with claim 9. The
rejection of claims 9, 10, and 12 is sustained.
Claims 14 and 15
Appellant argues (Br7), with respect to claim 14, that
Hajec does not have "stator means being located near said base
end of said shaft" (claim 14). The Examiner states that
"near" is a relative term and does not distinguish over Hajec
(EA5).
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