Appeal No. 2000-0337
Application No. 08/825,449 Page 6
between the outer periphery of the bearing outer races 118/120
(including annular spacer member 125) and the inner periphery of
hub 126.” In addition (answer, page 5) the examiner takes the
position that Chuta is silent as to a specific bearing sleeve.
To overcome this deficiency in Chuta, the examiner turns to
figure 2 of AAPA for a bearing sleeve and a bonding region
between the ball bearings. The examiner’s rationale (id.) is “to
improve the manufacturing process by reducing two parts to one
part” to reduce assembly time and simplify the assembling
process.
We observe that each of the independent claims recite that
the hub has only one bonding region; that the bonding region has
at least one annular recess and a plurality of contact regions,
and that the bonding region is positioned axially between two
ball bearings without being axially aligned with either ball
bearing.
From our review of Chuta, we find that when fixing the hub
member 104 to the outer races 118, and 120, an adhesive is used
in combination with press fitting and that the hub 104 is
supported to some degree by the outer races 118 and 120 at least
at the second recess portions 152 and 154 (col. 6, lines 34-39).
From this disclosure of Chuta, we agree with appellants (brief,
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