Appeal No. 1999-1748
Application 08/846,285
one or more “holes” formed by a punch. The “holes” are also
referred to as “disruptions” (specification, page 5). As
explained in the specification (page 10), being “a punched
perforation, the hole has characteristics of punching which
distorts the linear nature of the assembly providing slightly
folded or jagged edges and an attenuated insulation of the hole.”
Independent claim 19 recites an electrical ignitor for
exothermic material comprising a metal foil strip, a perforation
distortion4 in the strip operative to create spark plasma across
the perforation sufficient to ignite the material, and means to
apply voltage to the strip to create spark plasma across the
perforation distortion.
4 The term “perforation distortion” is not found in
appellants’ specification, as filed, but appears in the claims as
per an amendment (Paper No. 8). A perforation is a hole made by
or as if by piercing or boring, with the word perforate denoting
a passing through or into by or as if by making a hole (to
penetrate a surface). A hole is defined as an opening often
forced into or through a thing. A distortion is understood to
broadly be a twisting out of (or deformation in) a normal or
original shape. Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, G. & C.
Merriam Company, Springfield, Massachusetts. Consistent with the
underlying disclosure, a “perforation distortion” may be fairly
and reasonably viewed as broadly characterizing some form of a
hole or opening in an otherwise originally shaped metal foil
strip.
7
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