Appeal No. 1998-1478
Application No. 08/517,604
the dictionary definition. However, as explained by
appellants (Brief, page 4) "the normal understanding of the
word 'ridge' . . . implies an area which stands above the
level of the rest of the material." In fact the examiner's
dictionary defines a "ridge" as a "long narrow upper section
or crest." As a crest is the topmost portion, reading the
definition as a whole, we must conclude that a ridge is the
uppermost section. Thus, although the rectangular block
referenced by the examiner in combination with the trapezoidal
portion above the rectangular block could be considered a
ridge, the block alone cannot. The rectangular block is not
an "upper section or crest" as required by the examiner's
dictionary definition; it is the middle region.
The examiner asserts (First and Second Supplemental
Answers, page 2) that the definition of the term "ridge" does
not require that the ridge be the peak or highest point. We
disagree, since the definition specifically says "upper
section or crest." The examiner gives as an example that a
mountain can have ridges where the ridges are not the peak of
the mountain. We agree that there can be portions of the
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