Appeal No. 2004-0441
Application 09/777,535
Kirchner discloses a valve stem seal having a first rigid
cylindrical shell (14) connected to a second rigid cylindrical
shell (16) (col. 2, lines 45-50). The first rigid cylindrical
shell has an inwardly extending upper end wall (20) to which a
resilient sealing body (18) is directly bonded by molding,
interference fit, epoxies, or any other method capable of
creating a fixed joint (col. 2, lines 33-35, 50-51 and 56-65).
The second rigid cylindrical shell has at its lower end an
outwardly extending radial flange (36) which serves as a seat for
a valve spring (32) and is in direct contact with an engine block
head (26) (col. 3, lines 12-16). Thus, like Binford, Kirchner
does not disclose a seal on the bottom surface of the outwardly
extending radial flange.
The examiner states that he relies upon Kirchner for a
teaching of bonding an elastomeric seal to an annular valve stem
retainer assembly (answer, page 6). The examiner, however, does
not explain how Kirchner, in combination with Binford and Foley,
would have led one of ordinary skill in the art to an outwardly
extending radial flange having an elastomeric seal affixed to its
bottom surface.
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