Appeal No. 2005-1727
Application No. 09/925,013
THE INVENTION
The invention relates to “a chain tensioner as used in chain
drives of internal combustion engines for tensioning the chain
during operation” (specification, page 1). Representative claim 1
reads as follows:1
1. A chain tensioner, comprising:
a tensioner piston bearing upon a chain;
a cylinder guiding the piston for movement in a direction of
the chain and bounding with the piston a pressure chamber for
receiving hydraulic fluid;
a leakage gap for migration of hydraulic fluid from the
pressure chamber; and
a control member for at least reducing the leakage gap in
size, when a pressure in the pressure chamber increases.
THE PRIOR ART
The references relied on by the examiner to support the final
rejection are:
Stief et al. (Stief) 5,931,754 Aug. 03, 1999
Smith 6,361,458 Mar. 26, 2002
1 In claim 27, the term “the first seat” lacks a proper antecedent basis and the term
“circumferential grooves” is inconsistent with the underlying specification which more accurately describes
the subject grooves as “circumferentially spaced grooves.” Steps should be taken in the event of further
prosecution to correct these informalities.
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007