Appeal No. 98-1253
Application No. 08/249,931
however, the law of anticipation does not require that the
reference teach what the appellant is claiming, but only that
the claims on appeal "read on" something disclosed in the
reference (Kalman v. Kimberly-Clark Corp., 713 F.2d 760, 772,
218 USPQ 781, 789 (Fed. Cir. 1983)).
On pages 4-6 of the reply brief the appellants concede
that Otani teaches a "rubber" plug 52, coaxial annular ribs or
collars
56 and an end plug portion which has an "umbrella-like effect"
but, nevertheless, contend that the entire end plug portion
cannot be considered to be "umbrella-shaped" since there is a
flat portion thereon. We must point out, however, that the
specification provides no particular definition of "umbrella
shape," and umbrellas are made in many different shapes.
Accordingly, giving this terminology its broadest reasonable
interpretation, we are of the opinion that the end plug
portion
52' of Otani can be considered to be of "an umbrella shape" as
broadly claimed (see, e.g., Fig. 4).
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