Appeal No. 2001-0073
Application 08/966,894
We reverse.
BACKGROUND
The invention relates to a replaceable ink jet cartridge
which is designed to be refilled from an external ink reservoir
via an ink supply tube between the cartridge and the reservoir.
A connecting tube is coupled to the ink supply tube and is
designed to extend into the interior of the cartridge. The
cartridge has a first fitting, which may be a luer-lock 2 fitting
as recited in claim 16, molded into the top panel of the
cartridge which mates with a second fitting secured to the
connecting tube.
Claim 26 is reproduced below.
26. A replaceable ink jet cartridge for an ink jet printer
comprising:
2 "The luer fitting or luer-lock fitting is among the most
widely used connectors in the medical industry. Its purpose is
to 'connect two medical devices in a liquid-leak-proof and
mechanically secure manner.' Applications for these male and
female tapered, interlocking fittings include, but are not
limited to, syringes, needles, stopcocks, IV sets, and diagnostic
and therapeutic catheters." (Footnote omitted.) Lane and
Miller, Strain and Short-Term Creep Behavior of Thermoplastics in
Luer Taper Fitting Applications , Medical Plastics and
Biomaterials (Jan. 1998), reprinted http://www2.devicelink.com/-
mpb/archive/98/01/003.html. A luer connector consists of round,
tapered mating surfaces, male and matching female. A luer-slip
connection is put together with a half-twist. A luer-lock
connection has a threaded locking collar on the male luer
connector, which mates with ears on the female luer connector.
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