Appeal No. 1999-1747 Page 12
Application No. 08/715,422
quick connect coupling is being claimed, that is, the brake
hose and brake tube are not part of the claimed subject
matter. We reach this conclusion based on the appellant's use
of the phrases "for receiving the brake tube" and "for
communicating with the brake hose." In addition, it is not
clear to us if the "sealing arrangement" is part of the
claimed subject matter due to it being recited after the
phrase "for receiving."
The last clause of claim 1 (i.e., a groove in the brake
tube for abutting another portion of the retaining element to
prevent axial movement of the tube from the connector body)
leads us in both directions. First, it leads us in the
direction that the combination of a brake hose, a brake tube
and a quick connect coupling is being claimed. We reach this
conclusion based on the appellant's use of a separate clause.
Second, it also leads us in the direction that only the quick
connect coupling is being claimed, that is, the brake hose and
brake tube are not part of the claimed subject matter. We
reach this conclusion based on the appellant's use of the
phrase "for abutting."
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