Appeal No. 2002-2090
Application 08/430,311
reinforcement material of from about 0.3% to about 4%, by volume,
within the top one-half of deck panel 12” (page 32, lines 12-14).
In addition, appellant indicates on page 36, lines 11-13) that
“[f]iber reinforcing material or welded wire fabric, when used to
assist in shrinkage and temperature change crack resistance, are
in a quantity so as not to meet the requirements for ‘flexural
reinforcing’.” “Flexural reinforcing” is defined on page 26 of
the specification as being
material which is utilized in reinforced concrete and is
designed to carry all the tensile bending stress on the
reinforced concrete member while the concrete is assumed not
to carry any tensile stress. Flexural reinforcing is
provided in an amount and orientation such that the flexural
strength of the member is not diminished after the concrete
sets and cracks.
On the basis of the foregoing information, we understand
“plain concrete” as used in the present application and claims on
appeal to, at least, be readable as a concrete material including
cement, sand, water, coarse aggregate and a proportion of short
pieces or fibers of wire so as to define a structural concrete
with improved resistance to cracking at the upper surface thereof
due to concrete volume shrinkage and temperature changes, and
which has structural properties that prevent or reduce
deterioration of the top surface of the panel caused by corrosion
13
Page: Previous 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007