Appeal 2007-1218
Application 10/850,258
Weitzenhof discloses pistons 10 and these are the members that function as a
piston. We recognize that a piston for an air spring is normally a surface
that intrudes onto the air spring volume by longitudinal movement. The
blocking masses of Weitzenhof do not perform this function. Accordingly,
Weitzenhof does not anticipate claims 1-5, 19 and 20.
On the other hand, Pees shows an air spring--strut combination with
an outer cylinder 16 having two reduced diameter portions 30 and 32. A
piston lining 90 is slip--fitted over the reduced diameter portions of the outer
cylinder 16. A resilient sleeve or flexible member 70 with liner 80 forms a
lobe 84 that rides on the surface of the piston lining and a reentrant portion
of the resilient sleeve curves back around and is clamped to the reduced
diameter portion 32 of the outer cylinder 16. The metallic clamp or band 82
fastens the flexible member in this location underneath the smaller profiled
end of the piston 90. The other end of the resilient sleeve 70 is secured by a
retaining member 92.
Accordingly, it can be seen that Pees provides a shock absorber with
an outer cylinder wherein an air spring piston 90 is mounted to the outer
cylinder and a flexible member defines a sealed fluid cavity, rolling lobe 84.
Note further that the flexible member 70 is clamped between the outer
cylinder, that is, the reduced diameter portion 32 and the air spring piston 90
at its sealed interface. It is our finding that Pees clearly anticipates
claims 7 and 8. With respect to claim 9, we note that the flexible member of
Pees is composed of a sleeve 70 and liner 80 and the piston 90 engages two
sides of the outer sleeve 70 at the sealed interface. As to claims 10 and 23,
we agree with the Examiner that the limitation to a crimped attachment is in
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