Appeal No. 2002-0342 Page 5
Application No. 09/295,399
band functioning as a lubricant (page 3, line 9 et seq.). However, the appellants allege
that this type of combination guide band nevertheless frequently damaged the barrel
because of the relatively long length of the soft iron portion (page 4, lines 1-3).
The British specification discloses a projectile having band elements which in the
embodiment of Figure 2 comprise “a plurality of rings c c1 of porous metal impregnated
with lubricant alternating with a plurality of rings a a1 a2 of copper, the former projecting
slightly beyond the latter so as to provide one or more salient anti-friction surfaces”
(page 3, lines 39-44, emphasis added). The purpose of the copper rings is to retain the
porous metal rings in place (page 3, lines 48-50) and to cushion them against
“excessive shocks” (page 1, lines 54-55). They are not described as contacting the
barrel and, considering the definition of “guide band” set forth by the appellants in their
specification and the description of the invention disclosed in the British reference, it is
our view that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the copper bands are
not “partial guide bands” as recited in the appellants’ claims in that they do not impart
torque to the projectile from the barrel rifling.
Since the copper bands do not qualify as “partial guide bands,” the British
reference fails to disclose or teach the claimed “first partial guide bands made of a
material selected from the group consisting of copper and a copper alloy” alternating
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007