Appeal No. 96-3465
Application No. 07/848,856
b) wrapping a sheet of material having interwoven
filaments around said mandrel such that opposite edges
of said sheet of material overlap one another at said
ridge forming an outer material layer overlying said
ridge and an inner material layer overlying said
indentation;
c) pressing inwardly on said sheet of material over
said indentation to flex the edge of said outer
material layer outwardly creating a gap between said
outer material layer and inner material layer;
d) inserting a heating element in said gap;
e) pressing said overlapping edges onto said heating
element to melt said edges;
f) removing said heating element;
g) pressing said overlapping melted edges together to
cause said edges to seal to each other.
According to the examiner (Answer, p. 7):
Studying the Tumminia patent, it seems the instant
patent places heating element (20) between an apparent
gap on surface (10). More relevant, Colombo et al in
figure 2, teaches heating element (35) between “gapped”
surface (19). It is believed that as material (9) is
payed off roller (11), its journey would take it to
overlapping junction, shown in figure 2, and to be in
close proximity to heating element (35). Thus both
references to Colombo et al and Tumminia teaches [sic,
teach] forming gaps into their respective material and
later heat sealing the edges together (see Tumminia,
figures 6B and 6C).
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