Appeal No. 2002-0697
Application No. 09/625,857
Representative claim 21 reads as follows:
21. A batch-type kiln, comprising:
(a) a kiln body;
(b) a heating chamber disposed within the kiln body, the
heating chamber having a heater disposed therein;
(c) a table disposed at the bottom of the heating chamber,
the table having a peripheral portion and an upper surface for
supporting an object to be treated, the peripheral portion of the
table and a portion of the kiln body defining a gap there
between, the gap forming a gas-introducing path for introducing a
gas into the heating chamber, wherein the gap comprises a
horizontal component and a vertical component continuous with
each other; and
(d) a plurality of gas supply tubes arranged concentrically
with respect to the heating chamber for introducing a gas into
the heating chamber, each gas supply tube having a plurality of
blow openings.
THE PRIOR ART
The references relied on by the examiner as evidence of
obviousness are:
Okase 5,329,095 July 12, 1994
Shimada et al. (Shimada) 5,383,984 January 24, 1995
THE REJECTION
Claims 21 through 32 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a)
as being unpatentable over Okase in view of Shimada.
Attention is directed to the brief (Paper No. 15) and answer
(Paper No. 16) for the respective positions of the appellant and
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007