Appeal No. 98-0680
Application No. 08/685,160
directly underlying aperture 464B) is illustrated as passing
directly upwardly through aperture 464B in the diffuser. Even
outlet port 438, which is next closest to aperture 464B, is
illustrated as having some gas flowing through aperture 464B
and some gas flowing through aperture 466C. The gas flow from
the lowermost outlet ports 438 is clearly depicted as passing
through apertures 466A and 466B. Thus, while the gas flowing
from the one or two outlet ports which open directly upward
under the aperture 464B can pass freely through the aperture,
the gas discharging from any of the remaining outlet ports 438
must pass between the annular space between the wall of
reaction canister and the inflator (compare FIGS. 12 and 15)
in order to exit through any of the apertures 464B, 466A, 466B
or 466C. Accordingly, the gas flow from any of these
remaining outlet ports is "channeled" (much in the same manner
as the gas flow of Rion). Note also that the gas flow through
gas outlet ports 84a, 84b of the inflator of Rion appear to be
in substantially direct alignment with the apertures 44a of
the manifold or diffuser 10.
The appellants additionally contend that the examiner has
improperly relied on a dictionary definition to determine the
11
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