Appeal No. 1997-1992 Page 6
Application No. 08/115,388
component, at least one N,N'-dinitroso phenylenediamine
compound from among those specified in claim 10. The claimed
N,N'-dinitroso phenylenediamine compound must conform to the
formula specified in claim 10 and may include a C -C alkyl
1 12
substituent on one of the amine groups and a C -C aryl
6 10
substituent on the other amine group.
Our review of appellants' specification reveals that
appellants use the term "alkyl" as normally employed to refer
to open chain carbon substituents (radicals) of the specified
length that would have one less hydrogen atom than the
aliphatic hydrocarbon from which they may be derived. In this
regard, we note that appellants separately list cycloalkyl
groups and alkyl groups where both cyclic and acyclic groups
are intended to be included. See, e.g., page 6, line 20 of the
specification. Accordingly, in giving the claimed "alkyl" its
broadest reasonable interpretation, we determine that a
skilled artisan would interpret the claimed formula for
component (a) of the inhibitor composition of claim 10 as not
including N or N'
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007