Ex Parte Rock - Page 3



              Appeal 2007-1687                                                                     
              Application 10/136,781                                                               

                    17. A method of making an electro-chemical fuel cell stack, the                
              method comprising the steps of:                                                      
                          positioning a fuel cell assembly between first and second end            
              plates with a first end of said fuel cell assembly substantially parallel to and     
              adjacent a major surface of said first end plate and a second end of said fuel       
              cell assembly substantially parallel to and adjacent a major surface of said         
              second end plate;                                                                    
                          applying an external compressive force to at least one of said           
              end plates so that said fuel cell assembly is compressed by at least a planar        
              portion of said major surface of each of said end plates;                            
                          establishing an overlap between said at least one side plate1 and        
              at least one of said end plates, said overlap being continuously adjustable;         
                          attaching at least one side plate to a peripheral side wall of said      
              first and second end plates with first and second ends of said at least one side     
              plate being attached to said first and second end plates respectively so that        
              said first and second end plates remain in a fixed spaced relation with said         
              established overlap and said fuel cell assembly remains compressed when              
              said external compressive force is removed; and                                      
                          removing said external compressive force from said end plates.           
                    32. An electro-chemical fuel cell stack comprising:                            
                          a fuel cell assembly having opposite first and second ends with          
              a length therebetween, said first and second ends corresponding to major             
              planar surfaces of said fuel cell assembly;                                          
                          a first end assembly disposed on said first end of said fuel cell        
              assembly, said first end assembly having a first end plate with a major              
              surface substantially parallel with said planar surface of said first end of said    
              fuel cell assembly;                                                                  

                                                                                                  
              1 This claim 17 phrase “said at least one side plate” lacks antecedent basis.        
              This informality should be corrected in any further prosecution that may             
              occur.                                                                               
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