Appeal No. 1996-3975
Application No. 08/328,179
(Fed. Cir. 1999); Unidynamics Corp. v. Automatic Products
International Ltd., 157 F.3d 1311, 1319, 48 USPQ2d 1099, 1104-
1105 (Fed. Cir. 1998).
Applying the above statutory interpretation to the
present case, we determine that the terms “first flash
separation means for receiving a major portion of said
reaction effluent” and “second flash separation means for
receiving a minor portion of said reaction effluent” recited
in claims 8 are means-plus- function elements. Accordingly,
we look to the specification for the structure corresponding
to the terms and the equivalents thereof to determine the
scope of claim 8.
The first flash separation means is defined in the
specification at page 3, lines 11-12, and page 4, line 19 -
page 5, line 16. We find the first flash separation means to
be a high pressure flash tank 18. We find the tank has
attached a conduit means 17 through which it receives a
majority of the reaction effluent from the reactor. Two
outlets are provided from the tank, 19 and 21. The first is
for polyethylene and the other for unreacted monomer and
7
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