Appeal No. 1998-1610
Application No. 08/551,319
sides, (b) a plurality of substantially planar, four-sided
passageways extending through said pad member from said top to
said bottom, each one of said passageway sides extending
perpendicular to said top and said bottom and abuts against an
adjacent one of said passageway sides from said top to said
bottom; and (c) at least said passageway sides are formed from
a foam material having low compressibility whereby when an
infant is supported on said pad member, said passageway sides
retain their shape throughout and readily transmit gaseous and
liquid fluids therethrough and away from the crib in an
unrestricted manner. Consistent with the underlying
specification (page 13), we understand the claimed recitation
of "a foam material having low compressibility" to denote a
foam material that is sufficiently firm so that the
passageways maintain their shape and will not distort under
the weight of an infant.4
The patent to Spann is concerned with a foam mattress
(Fig. 12) or a foam pad for use as a mattress cover and the
At page 14 of the specification, the preferred foam material is4
described as a polyethylene foam marketed under the trade name ETHAFOAMŪ.
6
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