Appeal 2006-2838
Application 10/257,576
FINDINGS OF FACT
We find the following facts by a preponderance of the evidence:
Thompson discloses an apparatus for effectively locking a nut upon a bolt to
prevent the accidental disassociation of the nut and bolt (Thompson, p. 1, ll. 9-11).
Thompson’s apparatus includes a rectangular plate 5 made of spring material
with beveled edges 6 that engage a work piece 2 (Thompson, p. 1, ll. 59-66).
Thompson also discloses a “spring ring or washer member” 10 having its
inner face formed with lugs 11 (Thompson, p. 1, ll. 82-84).
Thompson’s lugs 11 are adapted to be received within pockets 9 in
rectangular plate 5 (Thompson, p. 1, ll. 84-85).
The inner face of nut 4 has teeth 14 which ratchet over teeth 12 on the outer
face of Thompson’s washer 10, when the nut 4 is screwed on a threaded shank of a
bolt 3 (Thompson, p. 1, ll. 85-98).
As teeth 14 ratchet over teeth 13, the beveled edges 6 of plate 5 are forced
tightly against the angular walls of the work piece 2, which causes the central
portion of plate 5 to bulge outwardly, thereby forcing washer 10 toward the nut to
bind the teeth 13 of the washer 10 and teeth 14 of the nut 4 (Thompson, p. 1, ll. 98-
107).
The movement of Thompson’s washer 10 toward the nut 4 is a translational
movement along the shank of bolt 3.
Thompson’s description does not indicate that the washer member 10 bulges
towards the nut 4 along with the bulging rectangular plate 5. If the washer member
5
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Last modified: September 9, 2013