Appeal No. 2002-2224
Application 08/923,103
[t]he washers of King being more flexible than the shank of the bolt, it is expected that
upon application of force to remove the washers, the washers will disengage from the
shank of the bolt and slide off of the bolt in the same manner that the washer is
effectively positioned to mate with the knurls of the shank of the bolt wherein the two
components are secured. Thus there is a reasonable degree of expectation that the
washer and shank can be engaged and disengaged without breaking the bolt of King.
[Id., page 10.]
It is axiomatic that all limitations in a claim must be considered in applying any statutory
provision. Here, appealed claim 1 clearly requires that the respective features of the shaft and
washer must mate in a manner that permits the washer to be removed from the shaft without
breaking either component. The examiner’s explanation that it is reasonable to expect that the
flexibility of the washer used by King permits disengagement in which the washer slide off of the
shaft in the same manner that it was positioned to mate with the knurls of the shank without
breaking either component, does not include specific reference to disclosure and Figs. in King.
We find that King discloses with reference to Figs. 1 and 3 which show diamond pattern
knurling on the bolt shaft, that
[t]he washers 16 are similar to the commercially available self-locking washers and
each has a bearing portion 25 and a locking portion 26. . . . The locking portion 26 is
segmented so that each segment 28 may be resiliently urged outwardly and the inside
diameter thereof is slightly less than the diameter of the shank 14 of the locking bolt
11 with which washers 16 are to be used. Therefore, the segments 28 flex outwardly
and permit the washer 16 to slide along the shank 14 under a force parallel to
centerline of the shank 14 in that direction opposite to the direction in which the
locking position 26 protrudes from the washer 16. It will be noted that upon forcing
the washer 16 in that direction opposite to that set forth above causes the segments 28
to dig into the surface of the shank 14 and lock the washer 16 into the bolt 11. [Col. 3,
lines 53-73; emphasis supplied.]
We observe in Fig. 3 that an edge of each of segments 28 of washers 16 are dug into the knurl
patterned part of bolt 11 as described. While there is no disclosure in King with respect to
removing washers 26 from bolt 11, we find that King does disclose with respect to Fig. 19 that
separation of the washers of the locking assembly from the shank of the bolt involves breaking
away that portion of the shank in which the edges of the washers are embedded (col. 9, lines
53-58).
It seems to us that the only flexibility in the washer taught in King is that involved with
the outward flexing of the segments of the washer which permits the washer, that has a smaller
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