Ex parte PFEUFFER et al. - Page 4




          Appeal No. 1999-0960                                                        
          Application No. 08/785,437                                                  


               Wright discloses a filter having an accordion pleated                  
          filter element 1.  On one or both sides of the filter, a                    
          capping 6 of adhesive such as epoxy resin is applied to the                 
          edges 4 of the pleats (called "fold backs" in appellants’                   
          application), and then screens 2, 3 are adhered to the                      
          capping.  The capping 6 serves the dual purpose of anchoring                
          the screens to the pleat edges and of protecting the edges 4                
          against backfire gases and abrasion                                         
          (col. 2, lines 10 to 17, and col. 3, line 59, to col. 4, line               
          22), while the screens prevent distortion of the filter and                 
          maintain uniform spacing between the pleat edges (col. 2,                   
          lines 40 to 45).                                                            
               On page 6 of the answer, the examiner seems to take the                
          position that the language of claim 1 is broad enough to be                 
          readable on Wright, because "the claim does not say that the                
          protective mask has to be continuously adhered at every point               
          to the fold backs."  We do not agree with this position.  In                
          the Wright filter, as shown in Fig. 2, the screen wires are                 
          only adhered to the pleat edges 4 where they cross the edges,               
          rather than running along the lengths of the edges.  Such                   


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