Appeal No. 2001-0444 Page 4
Application No. 08/949,803
The examiner contends that Arroyo 442 discloses a communications cable in
Figures 1 and 2 wherein the cable has a nonmetallic fiber strength system 32 and an
optical fiber core structure 22 for preventing the passage of water through a sheath
system (column 1, lines 10-40).
With regard to claim 7, the examiner points to a strength system 32 having first
and second nonmetallic strength members 32-33 comprised of a plurality of filaments
that are bound together and impregnated with a polymeric material (column 7, lines 5-
10). The examiner points to Figure 1 to show that the first strength member is wrapped
in a helical lay around the core and that the second strength member is wrapped in a
helical lay around the first member in a direction which may be opposite to that of the
first strength member (columns 7 and 8, lines 65-68 and 1-2, respectively). The
examiner further points to a jacket 34 which surrounds the strength system.
The examiner admits that Arroyo 442 fails to teach an insulating material
surrounding the first and second strength members and at least one layer of conductive
material being a plurality of copper conductors that concentrically surround the outer
diameter of the core structure. However, the examiner relies on Gareis to supply these
deficiencies, pointing to Gareis’ fiber optic cable in Figure 1, wherein the cable has a
cylindrical braided electrical conductor 37 which may be braided copper wires (column
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007