Appeal 2007-1792
Application 10/050,834
(farthest from the ball), and a longitudinal axis running through the upper
end and the lower end. The shaft 94 is threaded on the lower end. The
ball 100 is rigidly fixed and surmounted on the upper end of the shaft 94
(Scheublein, Jr., Fig. 9). The retaining member 104 is externally
threaded on the lower end of the member. A portion of the housing at
102 is internally threaded. Retaining member 104 is fastened to housing
91 via engagement of the external threads on retaining member 104 with
corresponding internal threads on the upper portion of housing 91 at 102.
The housing 91 has an outside surface, a middle portion, and a lower end
92. The housing 91 is internally conformed at the lower end 92 of the
housing 91 for seating the ball. Scheublein, Jr. further discloses external
threads 95 on the external surface of the middle portion of the housing to
attach the ball joint to an arm of the system (Scheublein, Jr., col. 5, ll. 53-
55, Fig. 9). The member 104 has lubricating port 106 located in the
upper surface thereof. The lubricating port is openly connected to a duct
107 providing a passageway to the top of the ball (Scheublein, Jr., Fig.
9). Figure 7 shows an alternate arrangement wherein ball 129 has a
truncated flat face (Scheublein, Jr., Fig. 7).
5. Maughan teaches a fastening means 260 and 262 for fastening a
retaining member 244 in a housing 208 (Maughan, Fig, 8).
PRINCIPLES OF LAW
“Section 103 forbids issuance of a patent when ‘the differences between the
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