Appeal No. 2005-0687
Application No. 10/097,510
both axially from the outer perimeter and radially inwardly from
the outer perimeter to a radially inner edge of the bearing cap
that extends around the thrust collar." However, the examiner
correctly sets forth that:
Figure 1 meets the limitations of claim 25 by at least
the following manner: the bearing cap inner wall
(collectively the first wall 44, the second wall 46 and
the lip 48) extends both axially from the outer
perimeter (as wall 44 so extends) and radially inwardly
from the outer perimeter (as wall 46 so extends) to a
radial edge (lip 48) that extends around the thrust
collar (lip 48 extends around the thrust collar as set
forth above regarding claims 20-24).
(Page 5 of Answer, first paragraph). While appellant maintains
that the admitted prior art of Figure 1 does not show the tapered
bearing cap shown in appellant's Figure 2, the examiner properly
notes that claim 25 "does not require the bearing cap to be
tapered" (id.). We agree with the examiner that a wall which
extends both axially and radially is not limited to a tapered
wall that extends axially and radially at the same time but,
rather, includes a wall which at some point extends axially and
at another point extends radially.
Regarding claim 32, appellant submits that the examiner's
rationale "makes clear that the Lakin reference does not disclose
the two separate features of the claimed thrust collar, the
thrust collar flange and the thrust collar annular end surface,
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