Appeal No. 2000-0503 Page 11
Application No. 08/902,031
bearing forces across a large portion of the vessel body and sills welded to the center
longitudinal beams provide for efficient transfer of bearing forces, longitudinal and transverse
(lateral) forces. Moreover, as discussed in column 3, lines 64-66, the skirt rings maximize the
force bearing area and increase the overall strength of the unit, thereby reducing the localized
effect of lateral and gravity forces on the tank. Therefore, Toth meets the communication
limitation of claims 108 and 121 as well as the more limited force transmission limitations of
claim 121.
With respect to claim 132, appellants (brief, page 23) urge that Toth does not disclose
"gussets" as claimed. We do not agree. As the skirt rings are attached to both the horizontal
end units 24 and the vertical end units 22 (column 4, lines 5-13), thereby helping to reinforce
the corners of the end frames, they are "gussets" as claimed.7
As to the particular aluminum alloys recited in claims 108, 121 and 132, for the reasons
discussed above with regard to claim 83, we conclude that to have constructed the container
apparatus of Toth using either 5000 series or 6000 series aluminum alloy based upon its
suitability for such use in accordance with the teachings of Toth would have been obvious to
one of ordinary skill in the art.
7A "gusset" is a plate for reinforcing a corner or angle in the framework of a structure (Webster's New
World Dictionary, Third College Edition (Simon & Schuster, Inc. 1988).
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