Appeal No. 1997-4046 Page 4
Application No. 08/040,117
(7) Claims 19-27 on the basis of Harris ‘471, Pang and
Marsoner.
(8) Claims 29, 31 and 32 on the basis of Niehaus.
Rather than attempt to reiterate the examiner’s full
commentary with regard to the above-noted rejection and the
conflicting viewpoints advanced by the examiner and the
appellants regarding the rejection, we make reference to the
Examiner’s Answer (Paper No. 25) and the Appellants’ Brief
(Paper No. 24).
OPINION
The appellants’ invention relates to methods and apparatus
for sampling liquids in such a manner as to preserve
representative samples having volatile materials in them. In
the case of the sampling apparatus, the invention comprises
sample containers having a single opening and an operating
system that inserts a needle through the opening. Fluid is
injected into the container through the needle as it is
withdrawn and continues until the container overflows,
whereupon a valve on the top of the container closes the
opening, thus insuring that no outside contamination enters. A
funnel-shaped cavity is provided in the top of the container,
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