Appeal No. 95-2638 Application 08/022,174 preferred alkaline buffer systems including, inter alia, citric acid/sodium citrate (col. 9, lines 15 through 25).2 The examiner's position to the contrary, notwithstanding, we find that Lioutas does not clearly and unequivocally disclose dried green vegetables having incorporated therein sodium citrate at a concentration of 1 to 4% by weight. First, no reference is made to the percentage of sodium citrate in dried green vegeta-bles anywhere in the Lioutas patent. Second, Lioutas does not disclose a working example or examples illustrating use of the citric acid/sodium citrate buffer system. Third, in setting forth citric acid/sodium citrate among a number of preferred alkaline buffer systems in Table 2 (col. 9, lines 15 through 25), Lioutas does not indicate the relative proportion of citric acid or sodium citrate in the system. Considering the Lioutas patent in its entirety, we find that Lioutas does not describe quick cooking dehydrated vegetable pieces having incorporated therein sodium citrate in the amounts recited in claims 1 though 5 on appeal. Sodium citrate is a species within the genus "alkali metal carboxylate"2 recited in the appealed claims. 4Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 NextLast modified: November 3, 2007