Appeal No. 1998-1781
Application No. 08/549,828
enlightenment by way of definitions or otherwise that may be
afforded by the written description contained in the applicant's
specification. In re Morris, 127 F.3d 1048, 1054, 44 USPQ2d
1023, 1027 (Fed. Cir. 1997). Moreover, absent an express
definition in the specification, the fact that appellant can
point to definitions or usages that conform to his
interpretation does not make the PTO's definition unreasonable
when the PTO can point to other sources that support its
interpretation. Id., 127 F.3d at 1056, 44 USPQ2d at 1029.
Finally, appellant’s request (page 2) contends that “the
plain meaning of claim 25 particularly when read in light of the
drawings and the specification at page 10, lines 26 to 29 is
that it is the central plane of the wheel which is claimed in
claim 25.” Appellant’s specification (page 10, lines 26-30)
states that
[t]he bearing profile 20 is pivotably mounted about
the axis 21a, which in the illustrated embodiment is
located laterally outside the central plane of the
castor wheel 17a and laterally outside the central
plane of the bearing profile 20 and also the central
plane of the sliding panel 12.
There is no mention in this discussion of a plane of rotation.
Further, we find no definition of plane of rotation or rotating
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