Ex Parte Snow - Page 3

                Appeal 2006-1966                                                                                  
                Application 10/246,506                                                                            

                       The references of record relied upon by the examiner as evidence of                        
                obviousness are:                                                                                  
                MacKenzie    U.S. 3,851,983   Dec. 03, 1974                                                       
                Schlueter    U.S. 5,067,845    Nov. 26, 1991                                                      

                       Claims 1-3, 5, 6, 8-10, 12 and 13 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103                     
                as being unpatentable over MacKenzie in view of Schlueter.                                        

                                                    ISSUES                                                        
                       The sole issue for our consideration on appeal is whether the examiner                     
                has made out a prima facie case of obviousness of the claimed subject                             
                matter.                                                                                           
                                             FINDINGS OF FACT                                                     

                       The following are findings of fact regarding the scope and content of                      
                the prior art and the differences between the prior art and the claimed subject                   
                matter.                                                                                           
                    1. MacKenzie discloses a coupling 10 using a sleeve-like member 11 to                         
                       attach a hub structure, shaft S, to a vehicle axle, shaft D.  The tubular                  
                       structure is adapted to slide over the end of the vehicle axle D.  The                     
                       tubular structure includes an expansion slot 13 which extends along a                      
                       portion less than the full length of the sleeve or tubular structure and                   
                       the clamping fastener including screws 16 and 17 in sockets 14 and 15                      
                       so that the sleeve-like member can be compressibly clamped about                           
                       shafts S and D.  MacKenzie does not disclose that the tubular                              
                       structure of the clamp assembly has an expansion slot wherein moving                       

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