Appeal No. 2002-0831
Application 08/250,286
Appellants argue that the specification clearly describes
operation of the switches to obtain data from the memory and
allowing a particular motor to be used in multiple appliance
environments, that is, different versions or models of the same
appliance. Appellants point to several sections of the
specification which they assert support the claimed limitation of
different appliance environments [brief, pages 11-17].
The examiner responds that the phrase different appliance
environments is argued by appellants as meaning either a motor M
usable in appliances A1, A2, etc. or motor M1, M2, etc. usable in
appliance A. The examiner asserts that the specification
supports the second definition but not the first definition. The
examiner finds that the specification does not support the case
where the switches permit a motor M to be used in a plurality of
different appliance environments [answer, pages 6-7].
Appellants respond that the phrase “appliance
environments” is a generic term that covers the use of a single
motor design in different types of appliances or in different
versions of the same appliance. Appellants also respond that
since the examiner admitted that the specification supports the
second definition, the rejection is clearly improper. Finally,
appellants argue that the brief points out several locations
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