Appeal No. 1997-1135
Application 08/375,196
extruded fibers containing at least first and second
components of one polymeric composition or substantially
identical polymeric compositions” (specification, page 3,
lines 10-13). “Substantially identical polymeric4
compositions” are those which “contain the same thermoplastic
polymer and different amounts and types of conventional
polymer additives that do not significantly alter the chemical
and physical properties of the polymer, e.g., pigments,
colorants, lubricants, fillers and the like” (specification,
page 3, lines 13-19). Appellant’s claims recite that the
single polymer conjugate fibers have a sheath-core
configuration and have at least two component compositions,
all of which consist essentially of one thermoplastic polymer
selected from semicrystalline thermoplastic polymers,
crystalline thermoplastic polymers and blends thereof, and are
processed with identical or substantially identical processing
conditions. Appellant’s specification states that forming the
4It is proper to use the specification to interpret what
appellant meant by a word or phrase in the claim. See In re
Morris, 127 F.3d 1048, 1053-56, 44 USPQ2d 1023, 1027-30 (Fed.
Cir. 1997).
4
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