Appeal No. 1996-1877
Application No. 08/149,716
Appellants’ invention relates to a method of preparing a
volatile sample from a material for gas chromatographic
analysis, the method including the steps of: introducing a
covered sample vial (20) containing a volatile sample into a
chamber (16) of a platen (4), heating the material containing
the volatile sample while the vial is being transported by the
platen, agitating the vial while in the chamber (16) of the
platen to enhance a transport rate of the volatile sample from
the material into the headspace of the vial, and then
introducing a needle to the vial (20) to withdraw at least a
portion of the volatile sample from the headspace of the vial.
The volatile sample withdrawn from the headspace of the vial
(20), via the needle, is then fed into a gas chromatographic
analysis apparatus. A copy of representative independent
claims 24 and 29, reproduced from appellants’ brief, is
attached to this decision.
The prior art references of record relied upon by the
examiner as evidence of obviousness are:
U.S. Patents
Natelson 3,324,628 Jun. 13, 1967
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