Appeal No. 2001-1918
Application No. 09/096,999
BACKGROUND
The invention is directed to a fluorescent lamp ballast case for reducing the
magnetic field generated by the lamp ballast circuit. Claim 1 is reproduced below.1
1. A magnetically shielded fluorescent lamp ballast case for shielding
humans from the harmful effects of magnetic fields emitted from a fluorescent
lamp ballast, by reducing the magnetic component of the electromagnetic fields
emitted from the electrical and electronic components within said fluorescent
lamp ballast, particularly the magnetic component of said electromagnetic fields
between 60 Hertz and 100 Kilohertz, comprising:
a generally rectangular fluorescent lamp ballast [sic; ballast case]
enclosing said electrical and electronic components, said fluorescent lamp ballast
case having holes in said fluorescent lamp ballast case to insert external
connecting wiring;
said fluorescent lamp ballast [sic; ballast case] being made of a shielding
material absorbing the magnetic component of the electromagnetic fields;
said magnetic shielding material being a metal alloy.
The examiner relies on the following references:
Blocher et al. (Blocher) 5,446,617 Aug. 29, 1995
CO-NETIC & NETIC Magnetic Shielding Alloys for Magnetic Shield Rooms & Modular
Enclosures (CO-NETIC), Magnetic Shield Corp. Catalog RE-1, Bensenville, IL, pp. 1-8,
1991.
Claims 1-16 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over
Blocher and CO-NETIC.
1 Claims 1 and 8 as submitted in the claim Appendix attached to the Brief are incorrect,
notwithstanding the Answer’s indication to the contrary. The amendment submitted after the Final
Rejection (proposed amendment filed Jan. 31, 2000; Paper No. 6) was not entered. See Advisory Action
mailed February 9, 2000 (Paper No. 7).
-2-
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007