Appeal 2006-3302]
Application 10/153,865
Appellants’ invention is directed to a power transmission shaft
including, inter alia, an electric-resistance welded pipe part and coupling
members furnished on opposite ends thereof. The pipe part is made of a
steel material including specified amounts of carbon, silicon, manganese,
aluminum, and sulfur, with a remainder of iron. An electro-unite portion of
the pipe part has been hardened such that it possesses a Rockwell hardness
(HRC) of 45 or more. Claim 1 is reproduced below1:
1. A power transmission shaft having an electric-resistance
welded pipe pipe part made of a steel material and coupling members
respectively provided on the opposite ends of the pipe part, wherein
the steel material includes 0.30-0.45% by weight of C, 0.05-0.35% by
weight of Si, 1.0-2.0% by weight of Mn, 0.05% by weight or less of
Al, 0.01% by weight or less of S, and the remainder, iron Fe and
unavoidable impurities, and the pipe part has an electro-unite portion
that extends in an axial direction, the electro-unite portion and
neighborhood thereof being hardened by a hardening treatment so as
to have a Rockwell hardness HRC of 45 or more wherein the steel
material contains S; and wherein the hardening treatment is a high-
frequency induction hardening and tempering treatment.
The Examiner relies on the following prior art reference as evidence
in rejecting claim 1:
Ono US 5,961,748 Oct. 5, 1999
Claim 1 stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as being anticipated
by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being obvious over
Ono.
We do not sustain the stated rejection, on this record.
1 Prior to final disposition of this application, the Examiner should review1
claim 1 to determine if “…pipe pipe…”, as recited in line 2 thereof,
represents a double inclusion that warrants correction.
2
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