Appeal No. 1997-0153
Application No. 08/375,681
that the cuff 7 of Schlobohm forms a loose fit on the filter
element 2 and a seal is achieved by expansion of the sleeve 8
and not by compression of the filter element.
The object of the appellants’ invention is to ensure that
fluid flows through the filter element and not between the
filter and housing (page 3, lines 19-22). This is accomplished
by providing a tight filter/housing fit. Claim 1 recites that
the filter element is compressed by the sleeve to form an
interference therewith. As described by appellants, “[T]he
interface between the bonded sorbent filter element and the
housing sleeve prevents channeling (that is, passage of
unfiltered air around the filter element) by having the filter
element compressed at the interface with the sleeve.” Brief,
page 3, lines 19-22.
Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (© 1971) at
page 1178 defines “interference”, in part, as “contact so
close as to produce deformation and stress.” The fit between
the elastic sleeve 8 and filter 2 of Schlobohm is described as
being “gas tight” (col. 2, lines 4-13 and col. 3, lines 51-
7
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