Appeal No. 2006-1622
Application No. 10/020,956
hub (11) and the inner rib (12) are deformed which would inherently
deflect both flanges), by deflecting said upper and Iower flanges toward
each other over an entire circumference thereof [See Final Rej. at p. 2]
The appellant responded
In the present case, the Examiner appears to set forth a hypothetical
situation where the magnetic tape wrapping force in a radial direction is
“greater than the hub and the inner rib structures” so that the magnetic
tape wrapping force would inherently deform both the hub and the inner
hub. However, as noted above, Iwahashi expressly discloses that the ribs
21 prevent the outer cylindrical section from radially and inwardly bending
by the pressure exerted from the tape wound therearound, so that this
hypothetical situation described by the Examiner would never happen in
Iwahashi. [See Brief at p. 13]
The examiner then responded
The invention of Iwahashi ‘826 is designed to prevent the inward radial
deformation, but the prior art teaches Appellant's claimed invention by its
recognition of the deformation and an attempt to prevent it. The reference
as a whole teaches the concept of means for gradually decreasing a
distance between the flanges and the hub as the magnetic tape is
wrapped around the hub. Iwahashi '826 recognizes the problem with an
inward radial bending to the hub caused by the tape tightly wrapped
around the hub. As the hub deforms radially, both of the flanges deflect
inwardly to the hub. Iwahashi '826 attempts to solve the problem by
shortening the length of the rib which prevents the outer cylindrical section
from an inward radial deformation when the tape is tightly wound around
the outer cylindrical section, see column 2, lines 1-17. [See Answer at p.
5]
The appellant finally responded regarding this bending in the prior art
Thus, the radially inward bending or deformation is at an upper portion
of the outer cylindrical section of the tape reel. Quite clearly, nothing is
ever mentioned about the upper and lower flanges of the tape reel
deflecting towards each other over an entire circumference thereof let
alone “means for gradually decreasing a distance between said upper
flange and said lower flange outside the outer peripheral surface of the
hub, as said magnetic tape is being wrapped around said hub, by
deflecting said upper and lower flanges towards each other over an entire
circumference thereof” as recited in Appellant's independent claim 1.
4
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007