Appeal No. 1998-3355
Application No. 08/665,167
BACKGROUND
The appellants’ invention relates to a tape bearing surface with reduced tape
contact and method of making same. An understanding of the invention can be derived
from a reading of exemplary claim 1, which is reproduced below.
1. A tape bearing surface for a tape, the tape having a boundary layer of
air entrapped between the tape and the bearing surface upon movement of
the tape, a flying height above the surface and a cross-web tension, the tape
bearing surface comprising a stationary tape surface piece having a top
surface with a longitudinal axis defining a tape path and a lateral axis
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the top surface defining a convex
shape extending along the lateral axis having at least two distinct radii, the
respective radii being such as to minimize cross-web tension while
minimizing friction and maintaining a predetermined flying height.
The prior art reference of record relied upon by the examiner in rejecting the
appealed claims is:
Eaton et al. (Eaton) 5,282,105 Jan. 25, 1994
Claims 1-3, 6, 7, 9, 11, and 12 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102 as being
anticipated by Eaton. Claims 4, 5, 8, 10, and 13-18 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
§ 103 as being unpatentable over Eaton.
Rather than reiterate the conflicting viewpoints advanced by the examiner and the
appellants regarding the above-noted rejections, we make reference to the
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