Appeal No. 1998-2207
Application No. 08/627,162
The subject matter on appeal relates to a process for
coating material composed of particles, fibers, and powders
comprising the steps of depositing thereon a layer of adhesion
material using a sputter technique and depositing a material
on
the adhesion material layer. This appealed subject matter is
adequately illustrated by independent claim 1 which reads as 1
follows:
1. A process for coating material composed of
particles, fibers, and powders, comprising:
depositing a layer of adhesion material on the
material to be coated using a sputtering technique,
and
1 The record before us reflects that the appellants and the examiner
have implicitly interpreted the appealed claim 1 phrase “coating material
composed of particles, fibers, and powders” as including (at least
essentially) only the specifically recited particles, fibers and powders. Our
study of the subject specification reveals that such an interpretation is
reasonable and consistent with the specification disclosure. Regarding claim
interpretation generally, see In re Sneed, 710 F.2d 1544, 1548, 218 USPQ 385,
388 (Fed. Cir. 1983). Also regarding interpretation of the claim phrase
“composed of”, specifically, see AFG Industries, Inc. v. Cardinal IG Company,
Inc., 239 F.3d 1239, 1248, 57 USPQ2d 1776, 1780-81 (Fed. Cir. 2001). As a
consequence, we also will so interpret this claim in our disposition of the
appeal.
2
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