Appeal No. 1999-0280
Application 08/672,383
transfer tube for a heat exchanger. The tube has external fin
con-volutions disposed helically around thereabout with the
fin convolutions cut at an angle by notches. The angle of the
base of the notches is at an oblique angle with respect to the
longitudinal axis of the tube and ranges between 40 and 70
degrees.
The claimed subject matter may be further understood by
reference to the appealed claims appended to appellants'
brief.
The references of record relied upon as evidence of
obviousness are:
Chiang et al. (Chiang) 5,203,404 Apr. 20,
1993
Kouda et al. 1 3-234302 Oct. 18, 1991
(Japanese Patent)
THE REJECTION
Claims 1, 3 and 4 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as
unpatentable over Chiang in view of Kouda. According to the
examiner, since Chiang's ribs or fins are helical, they, by
1Our understanding of the Japanese reference is via an
apparent English language equivalent, Patent No. 5,052,476 to
Sukumoda et al. (Sukumoda).
2
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