Appeal No. 1997-4385
Application No. 08/288,864
This
interpretation is consistent with the ordinary meaning of the
word (see Webster's II New Riverside University Dictionary 933
(1984) ("prevent: to keep (someone) from doing something;
impede"); id. at 613 ("impede: to obstruct or delay the
progress: hinder")) and with the appellant’s use of the word
in the specification. There is no disclosure in the
appellant’s specification that the solids deflector 38 totally
covers or precludes all particles from bouncing off the end
wall 18. In fact, the provision of opening or slot 38a in the
lower portion of the deflector for directing separated solids
into funnel 35 (see specification, p. 7 and Figures 1 and 3)
indicates to us that entrained particles may contact that
portion of wall 18 not covered by the deflector 38 and settle
within the interior of the deflector.
The examiner determined (answer, p. 4) that the solids
deflector as defined in claim 19 reads on the vortex
stabilizer 21 of Dewitz. We note that Dewitz specifically
teaches that a
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