Appeal No. 1998-3016
Application No. 08/568,344
the flange being coated in operative position by rubber
sealing material (60) on both sides, an annular filter media
(34) being connected to the base via the flange" (the final
rejection, Paper No. 10, page 7).
The appellants' argument is the same as that with
respect to Thurman. That is, Briggs' body (60) of elastomeric
material is a separate part rather than the coating as
required by claim 1. Further, the appellants argue that "the
Examiner's attempt to read the instant claim language on the
structure of Briggs is untenable... Briggs does not disclose
or suggest a rubber coated flange extending between a housing
and a base member to form a seal therebetween, as set forth in
instant claim[s] 1" (reply brief, page 2).
We do not agree with the appellants' position that Briggs
does not teach the features of claim 1 on appeal. In our view
Briggs' members (36, 42) and (48) provide a housing for the
pleated filter medium, or coalescer (34), which is mounted via
rubber covered flange (58) on base (18, 62) so as to provide a
seal between the housing and base as prescribed by appellants'
claim 1 on appeal. Flange (58) is described by Briggs as
"embedded in a body of elastomeric material 60" (col. 2, lines
8
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