Appeal No. 1998-0316
Application No. 08/355,646
in view of Osada, under 35 U.S.C. § 103.
Rejection (1)
First considering this rejection with regard to claim 1,
we find that Ohasi discloses a molding method in which first
and second molds 6, 7 are joined to define a mold cavity,
plastic is injected into the mold cavity, and then, prior to
solidification of the plastic, a plunger 8, which may also
function as an eject pin (col. 3, lines 27 to 30), is lowered
to a position in which its lower surface is flush with the
inner surface of mold 6, applying pressure to the plastic
(col. 3, lines 11 to 24). Appellant argues that Ohasi does
not meet all the limitations of claim 11 because it does not
disclose projecting the pin 8 "into the mold cavity with the
molds joined together," as claimed. On pages 3 and 4 of the
reply brief, appellant further contends that since Ohasi
designates the space below plunger 8 (i.e., projection 5) as
being outside the mold cavity, the examiner's assertion that
portion 5 forms a part of the mold cavity is incorrect.
We do not agree with appellant. The fact that Ohasi does
not define portion 5 as being part of the mold cavity is not
conclusive, since terms in a claim are to be given their
3
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