Appeal No. 1997-4077
Application No. 08/441,989
1. A pipe joint comprising a pair of tubular joint
members [1, 2] made of a metal and each having an
abutting end face, a distinctly colored annular
gasket [30] made of a metal and interposed between
the abutting end faces of the respective joint
members, and a nut [4] joining the joint members
together and formed in said nut’s side wall an
inspection window [40] at a position radially
aligned with the abutting end faces of the joint
members, the inspection window extending through the
nut side wall for viewing said gasket, and the pipe
joint being characterized in that the gasket is
distinctly colored making the gasket discernable
from the joint members when observed through said
inspection window. (Reference numerals added)
The prior art references of record relied upon by the
examiner in rejecting the appealed claims are:
Babuder et al. 4,650,227 Mar. 17,
1987
(Babuder)
Yamaji et al. 5,308,124 May 03,
1994
(Yamaji)
Shinohara et al. 5-332483 Dec. 14,
19933
(Shinohara) (Japanese published
application)
consider the recitations of a “distinctly colored” gasket in lines 3 and 12 of
claim 1 (as reproduced in this decision) as repetitious. Correction of these
informalities is in order upon return of this application to the jurisdiction
of the examiner.
3In determining the teachings of Shinohara, we will rely on the
translation provided by the PTO. A copy of the translation is attached for
the appellants' convenience. Any reference in this decision to Shinohara by
page is to this translation.
3
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