Appeal No. 1999-2544 Page 10
Application No. 08/796,513
fibers on their outer circumferential surface is described as
"[e]ach hollow fiber of the bundle is directly heated
electrically... [i]ndividual resistor wires are wound around
the hollow fibers... or they are printed on or applied as
strips or films..." (page 5, lines 5-11). This leads us to
the conclusion that Jackson's heater element (42) which heats
the water and not the fibers, does not teach or suggest,
either expressly or inherently, corresponding or equivalent
structure to appellant's electrical heating means for
electrically heating the fibers on their outer circumferential
surface as recited in claim 1 on appeal. Although Jackson's
heating element (42) is an electrical heating means, it does
not perform the function of electrical heating of the hollow
fibers on their outer circumference as recited in claim 1.
Rather, Jackson's heated water heats the fibers by conduction,
not electrically. Accordingly, it is our opinion that one of
ordinary skill in the art would not consider Jackson's heating
element (42) to be an electrical heating means for electrical
heating of the fibers on their outer circumferential surface,
and for this reason we will not sustain the examiner's
rejection of claim 1.
Page: Previous 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007