Appeal No. 2006-2629
Application No. 09/887,066
periluoroprene copolymer), PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride),
ETFE (tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer), ETFCE
(ethylenetrifluorochlorethylene copolymer), PCTFE
(polychlorotrifluoroethylene), FPA (perfluoroalkoxyalkane),
hexafluoropropylene/vinylidene fluoride copolymers,
hexafluoropropylene/vinylidene fluoride/tetrafluoropropylene
THV terpolymers, tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene/
treated vinylidene fluoride, PEEK (polyetherether ketone),
PEKK, PAEK, PEK, and aliphatic polyketones.
THE REFERENCES
Issenmann 5,090,256 Feb. 25, 1992
Cheney et al. (Cheney) 5,566,720 Oct. 22, 1996
THE REJECTION
Claims 9-23 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being
unpatentable over Issenmann in view of Cheney.
OPINION
We reverse the aforementioned rejection. We need to address
only the independent claims, i.e., claims 9 and 16, each of which
requires an inner tube that is made of at least one recited
polymer that limits retention of trace hydrocarbons.
Issenmann discloses a method and apparatus for sampling
gases contained in drilling mud from an oil well or oil
exploration site (col. 1, lines 10-13). The apparatus is placed
as close to the source of drilling mud as possible to prevent
escape of gases therefrom so that the properties of the sampled
hydrocarbon gases correspond as closely as possible to the
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007