Appeal No. 1998-0432 Page 6
Application No. 08/681,070
cylindrical inner body section with a smooth bore
therethrough" since Burd has a large diameter bore 14, a bevel
portion 18, and a smaller diameter portion 16. We agree.
The examiner responded to this argument (answer, p. 6) by
stating that the bore in Burd's connector 10 "is considered
smooth with respect to its texture which shows no bumps." The
examiner then stated that "[t]he change in diameter is
considered to still provide a smooth bore therethrough with
respect to its texture."
In proceedings before the Patent and Trademark Office
(PTO) the verbiage of the claims before it are given the
broadest reasonable meaning of the words in their ordinary
usage as they would be understood by one of ordinary skill in
the art, taking into account whatever enlightenment by way of
definitions or otherwise that may be afforded by the written
description contained in the appellants' specification. In
re Morris, 127 F.3d 1048, 1054, 44 USPQ2d 1023, 1027 (Fed.
Cir. 1997). See also In re Sneed, 710 F.2d 1544, 1548, 218
USPQ 385, 388 (Fed. Cir. 1983).
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