Appeal No. 1998-3367
Application No. 08/545,717
stiffness between 25 g and 90 g, it is possible to achieve
good handling characteristics (specification, page 5).
Turning to Gipson, we appreciate that Gipson does not
expressly state what the stiffness of the waist belt is as
measured by the modified ASTM test used by appellants.
Nevertheless, it is self-evident that Gipson’s waist belt has
some stiffness value as measured by that standard. The
characteristics of the waist belt of concern to Gipson are
discussed in columns 3 and 4. We are informed at column 3,
lines 10-17, that the belt should not be too wide nor too
narrow, least it fail to provide for adequate adjustment to
fit the wearer or interfere with leg movement of the wearer.
Column 3, lines
24-25, states that the waist belt should be nonirritating to
the skin. From column 3, lines 49-50, we learn that the belt
can be of single or double thickness. At column 4, lines 28-
41, it is stated that the sides of the waist belt may be
reinforced, but that in so doing, the reinforcement should be
smooth, nonirritating to the skin, and not provide an undue
increase in thickness, because otherwise the wearer could
experience discomfort.
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