Appeal No. 2005-2437
Application No. 09/682,642
such as a quenched band steel plate so that they may not be
deformed by the axial tensions of the through-bolts 14 when
tightened” (col. 4, lines 5-8) and that “the rear bracket 21 is
never deformed or bent by the axial tensions of the through-bolts
14” (col. 5, lines 52-53) would have indicated to one of ordinary
skill in the art that distortion loads produced when the
fasteners are tightened are being minimized. Hence, the ribs
function in minimizing the distortion loads.
We therefore affirm the rejection of claim 18 and claim 14
that stands or falls therewith.
Claim 19
The appellant argues that Nagashima and Isozumi do not
disclose a reinforced end plate affixed directly to an engine
body (brief, page 6).
Claim 19, which depends from claim 18, requires that a
second end cap is formed with a mounting bracket which is affixed
to a body that journals another shaft, and that at least some of
the stiffening ribs are integral with the mounting bracket. The
claim does not require that a reinforced end plate is affixed
directly to an engine body. Nagashima’s figure 1 shows that the
end cap on the right of the motor, which corresponds to the
10
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