Appeal No. 2003-1946
Application 09/156,952
radially outward from the body outer surface (figures 1-4), and a
lowermost edge which is located closer to the open end than to
the closed end (figures 1, 2 and 4). The lowermost edge is shown
in figure 4, particularly on the left side, as being
substantially perpendicular to the body outer surface.
The specimen container’s tubular body has an upper
portion (20) adapted for receiving a cap (24) having an outer
surface (col. 2, lines 51-52). The outer surface does not
include a torque pattern. However, it is undisputed that it
would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to
include on the outer surface the torque pattern of Moore’s
centrifuge tube cap (figures 3 and 5). Also, there is no dispute
as to whether it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill
in the art to include, between the body and the cap, a seal which
is capable of forming a substantially fluid-tight seal.
Both the flat surface and the lowermost edge of Brodner’s
outer anti-rotation ridges are accessible when the cap is engaged
with the body (figure 4). When the body is inserted into a
tray (16), the outer ridges produce a locking type action with a
plurality of small ridges (68) in an aperture (62) in the tray
(col. 3, lines 34-40; figure 4). There is no dispute as to
whether the anti-rotation ridges are capable of reacting against
4
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007