Appeal No. 2001-2327 Page 6
Application No. 08/835,460
the first and second cylindrical elastic bodies 40, 42 are formed integrally with each
other, and cooperate with the first support member 34 to constitute a first
intermediate product 58 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The sleeve portion 4B and the
support plate portion 50 of the first support member 34 have a suitable number of
through-holes 60 formed therethrough, so that the rubber material flows through
these through-holes 60 onto the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve portion
48 and the lower surface of the support plate portion 50, in the process of
vulcanization, so that the above-indicated outer circumferential surface and lower
surface are covered at the substantially entire areas thereof with thin rubber layers,
which contribute to an increase in the durability of the sleeve and support plate
portions 48, 50, and an increase in the strength of bonding of the first and second
elastic bodies 40, 42 to the sleeve and support plate portions 48.
After the scope and content of the prior art are determined, the differences between
the prior art and the claims at issue are to be ascertained. Graham v. John Deere Co.,
383 U.S. 1, 17-18, 148 USPQ 459, 467 (1966).
Based on our analysis and review of the admitted prior art and claim 7, it is our
3
opinion that the only difference is the limitation that
at least said lower rubber ring portion and said coil spring receiving rubber ring
portion being formed as an integral structure molded to said plate by vulcanization
molding thereby defining a joining portion interconnecting said lower rubber ring
portion and said coil spring receiving rubber ring portion, said joining portion
overlying at least an area portion of said lower side of said plate.
The examiner ascertained (answer, pp. 2-3) that the admitted prior art "discloses all the element3
recited here . . . but for the lower rubber ring and coil spring rubber ring being integral."
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