Appeal No. 2001-0386 Page 10
Application No. 08/614,358
metes and bounds of a claimed invention with a reasonable
degree of precision and particularity. See In re Venezia, 530
F.2d 956, 958, 189 USPQ 149, 151 (CCPA 1976).
Dependent claim 8 is indefinite since it depends from
independent claim 33 and recites that "each said sloping
surface further comprises water relief apertures positioned
near said outer mating perimeter." Claim 8 is indefinite
since it conflicts with claim 33. In that regard, claim 8
recitation of "water relief apertures" which would permit
overhead water to fall between adjacent containers conflicts
with claim 33 recitation that "all overhead water is captured
and directed into said main bodies of said containers such
that no water falls between adjacent said containers."
Claims 23 to 32 and 34 are indefinite since claim 34
lacks proper antecedent basis for "said main bodies." Thus,
the meaning of the phrase "all overhead water is captured and
directed into said main bodies of said containers such that no
water falls between adjacent said containers" is not clear.
This rejection would be overcome if the above-noted phrase
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