Appeal No. 1996-1891
Application 08/058,478
waveguide walls generally parallel to the vibratile
surface. [Answer at 6.]
As appellant correctly notes, these waveguide portions are
formed by walls that are perpendicular to the vibratile
surface, not parallel thereto as argued by the examiner.
Consequently, the rejection of claim 5 is reversed.
Claim 9 stands rejected under § 102(e) as anticipated by
Spear. This claim calls for, inter alia, (a) the waveguide to
have "damping material in said waveguide at said driver end
extending into said waveguide for a predetermined length near
said vibratile surface" and (b) "the length of said waveguide
between said first end and said damping material [to be]
significantly greater than said predetermined length." These
limitations clearly require that the damping material not fill
the entire waveguide. As appellant correctly notes, Spear's
damping material fills the entire waveguide. See column 3,
lines 18-20: "The housing is completed by respective top and
bottom walls E--E as shown. Normal standing wave modes that
freely arise along the entire height of the line are damped
conventionally by placing symbolized fibrous materials
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