Appeal No. 2001-0302
Application No. 08/635,614
position also is not sound because it is speculative at best and
clearly unsupported by any evidence in the record.11
In light of the foregoing, we shall not sustain the
anticipation rejection of the appealed claims based on Ito.
Turning to the Section 103 rejection of claims 1, 6 and
8 based on Ito or Takaoka in view of Wehr (rejection(d)), Takaoka
pertains to a power steering apparatus having a slip clutch
located between the outer circumference of the steering shaft
2 and the inner circumference of a gear 6 that is driven by power
assist motor M. Several embodiments of the slip clutch are
disclosed, including the Figure 6 embodiment wherein a slip plate
9 having stable friction characteristics (see column 11, lines 6-
22) is positioned between an adjustable nut 8 and the gear 6.
Wehr, the examiner’s secondary reference, is directed to a
overload coupling for connecting a hub to a shaft comprising an
inner bushing 3 coupled to a shaft 2, an outer bushing coupled to
a hub 1, and a series of pretensioned resilient rings 8
positioned between the inner and outer bushings.
11
11It is, of course, well established that inherency may not be
established by probabilities or possibilities, and the mere fact
that a certain thing may result from a given set of circumstances
is not sufficient. In re Oelrich, 666 F.2d 578, 581, 212 USPQ
323, 326 (CCPA 1981)).
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