Appeal No. 2005-1571 5
Application No. 10/263,275
arcs shown at 46 and 47 which are positioned
symmetrically on each side of the lowermost
circumference arc 48 formed by the center 42. Only the
smaller circumference arcs 46, 47 and 48 are threaded.
The arcs 46 and 47 are provided with threads which
match the threads on the larger or 1" stud. The
smaller circumference arc at the center bottom
indicated at 48 is provided with threads which match
the smaller or 5/8" stud, for example. The edge of the
entire hole is chamfered as indicated at 49 in FIGS. 2
and 3.
. . .
The larger circumference being unthreaded permits
the connector quickly to be slipped over the threaded
stud regardless of size with the jam screws retracted.
As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the tightening of the
jam screws will clamp the larger stud seen at 55
against the threaded circumference arcs 46 and 47
symmetrically on each side of the circumference arc 48.
Since the threaded portions of the circumference arcs
46 and 47 match the threads on the stud 55, the
tightening of the jam screw provides a large surface
area of precision contact between the connector and the
stud threads.
For the smaller studs such as seen at 56 in FIG.
5, the jam screws are simply tightened down further to
press the stud into the circumference arc 48 or cusp
which intersects the arcs 46 and 47 to provide the
intimate contact between the threads of the stud 56 and
the internal threads on the arc 48. With the same
blind hole, the connector may readily be connected to
either size stud, and with the meshing matching
threads, a large surface area of precision contact is
provided which provides both a stable connection and an
efficient cool running and long service life connection
[column 4, line 18, through column 5, line 8].
As conceded by the examiner (see pages 3 and 4 in the
answer), Ashcraft does not meet the limitations in independent
claim 1, or the corresponding limitations in independent claims
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Last modified: November 3, 2007