Appeal No. 2005-2210 Παγε 5
Application No. 09/996,974
OPINION
In reaching our decision in this appeal, we have given careful consideration to
the appellants' specification and claims, to the applied prior art references, and to the
respective positions articulated by the appellants and the examiner. As a consequence
of our review, we make the determinations which follow.
Swain discloses a system for supporting hollow cylinders or substrates 88. The
system includes a loading mandrel 110 and a mandrel assembly 10 comprising a tube
14 having a cylindrical cross-section. Within the tube 14 is a shaft 16 having a cam
section 87 biased by spring 90 in the direction of the loading mandrel 110. When the
button 22 on the end of the shaft 16 is depressed, the shaft 16 moves to the left as
illustrated in Figure 1, thereby causing a cam follower 86 to move toward the central
longitudinal axis of the shaft 16. The free ends of the spaced rails 42, 44 attached to
the cam follower 86 move along with the cam follower 86 toward the central longitudinal
axis of the shaft 16. In this “load” position, the disposition of the free ends of the rails
42, 44 and the wheels 66, 64, 62, etc. mounted thereto close to the wall of the tube 14
facilitates loading of a substrate 88 from the loading mandrel 110 onto the mandrel 10.
Subsequent twisting of the button 22 causes head 26 of resilient retaining pin 28 to ride
out of slot 24 so that when button 22 is thereafter released, spring 90 will urge shaft 16
to move away from bearing post 20 and force the cam follower 86 to ride up on the cam
87, thereby causing the free end of rail assembly 42, 44 to move toward the inner
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