Appeal No. 2003-1569
Application No. 09/783,466
surface of a bearing cup and a cylindrical bore of a yoke for
“cushioning” the area between the two. Taken in conjunction with
these descriptions, and notwithstanding its poor caliber,
original Figure 2 fairly shows that (1) the cylindrical
elastomeric members would prevent contact between the radially
outer peripheries of the bearing cups and the inner peripheries
of the yoke bores adjacent thereto, (2) the cylindrical
elastomeric members do not extend beyond the axial extent of the
bearing cups, and (3) the cylindrical sleeves, i.e., the
cylindrical elastomeric members,4 have cylindrical inner bores
closely receiving the outer peripheral surfaces of the bearing
cups such that the bearing cups have end cross-sectional areas
which do not align with portions of the cylindrical sleeves.
Although the examiner’s criticisms of original Figure 2 are well
taken, the examiner has not cogently explained, and it is not
apparent, why a person of ordinary skill in the art would regard
the inconsistencies in the drawing as being anything more than
imprecise freehand depictions of the structural features at issue
in claims 1, 8 and 11. Viewed in this light, the disclosure of
the application as originally filed would reasonably convey to
4 The appealed claims are replete with minor instances of
inconsistent terminology which should be corrected in the event
of further prosecution.
5
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