Appeal No. 1998-0073
Application 08/273,813
the claim.” In re Hiniker Co., 150 F.3d 1362, 1369, 47 USPQ2d
1523, 1529 (Fed. Cir. 1998). Claims will be given their
broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the
specification, and limitations appearing in the specification
are not to be read into the claims. In re Etter, 756 F.2d
852, 858, 225 USPQ 1, 5 (Fed. Cir. 1985).
We note that Appellants’ claim 2 recites
[a] portable computer including a keyboard and a display,
and comprising: a clam shell case comprising: hinges; a
bottom housing comprising a battery pack and an interior
surface containing the keyboard; a top housing containing
the display,. . . at least one external port located
within the bottom housing; and at least one port sealing
unit corresponding to and selectively sealing said at
least one external port, wherein the at least one port
sealing unit comprises soft rubber.
Appellant’s claim 2, in addition to “a clam shell case,”
recites “at least one external port located within the bottom
housing” and “one port sealing unit corresponding to and
selectively sealing said at least one external port.” We find
that the external port and the sealing unit of Appellant’s
claim 2 merely require that one external port be located in
the bottom housing and be selectively sealed. The claim
requires neither any particular form of sealing of the
9
Page: Previous 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007