Appeal No. 97-1426
Application 08/380,125
renders the claim unclear as to which roll stand is being
referred to of the earlier recited “at least two roll stands”
(line 1).
We are of the view, however, that the content of
claim 4 is not indefinite relative to the recitation of “the
other roll stand.” The claimed unit comprises “at least two
roll
stands.” Thus, while the number of stands may be more than
two, the claim minimally sets forth two stands. Accordingly,
it is quite apparent to us that the reference to “one roll
stand”
refers to one of the two stands, while the language “the other
roll stand” clearly makes reference to the other of the two
roll stands. This analysis does not detract from the circum-
stance that the claim encompasses, as indicated, additional
stands. For the reasons set forth, supra, claim 4 is consid-
ered to be definite under 35 U.S.C. § 112, second paragraph.
The obviousness issue
4
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