Appeal No. 2002-0840
Application No. 09/610,015
underlying disclosure (specification, page 5), we are instructed
that Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the (direct connect) insert 10,
which insert includes a generally cylindrical shaped body portion
12, an annular cap 14, and an aperture 16. Additionally, the
insert is indicated as being comprised of a material that will
readily expand. In light of the above, it is quite apparent to
us that the bushing itself includes or has a annular cap 14, with
the bushing and its cap being of a material that will readily
expand, as further revealed in the drawings.
We certainly appreciate the relevance of the Kincaid
teaching applied by the examiner, vis-a-vis the now claimed
subject matter. The examiner’s primary focus is upon the
embodiment in Kincaid shown in Figs. 5 and 6. For this
embodiment, however, Kincaid expressly teaches, as distinct
entities, a rubber or elastomeric material bushing 100 and a
washer 104, with the washer abutting the end wall 108 of the
bushing. The cross-hatching in Figure 5 of Kincaid leads us to
believe that the washer 104 is fabricated from a metal material,
in contrast with the rubber or elastomeric material bushing 100.
It is also worthy of noting that the patentee indicates that,
optionally, the washer can be eliminated if the radial dimension
5
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