Appeal No. 1999-0082
Application No. 08/655,022
Examiner’s Answer (Paper No. 15) and the Appellants’ Briefs
(Paper Nos. 13 and 17).
OPINION
The appellants’ invention is directed to the combination
of a fluid control device having a regulator for controlling
the flow through a channel, a connection member connected to
the regulator, and means for detachably connecting the
regulator. The claim establishes that there is an upper
connector and a lower connector with an annular gasket
interposed between abutting end faces of the connectors.
Among the other structure recited in the claim are “annular
projections” formed on the end faces and being operative to
deform said gasket into sealing engagement with the end faces.
The projections are radially spaced from the channel to define
“concentrically disposed inner flat faces and outer flat faces
on opposite sides of said projections,” with the inner flat
faces being mutually axially spaced closer together than the
outer flat spaces. According to the appellants, the latter
feature results in a better seal as the components are being
attached together.
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