Appeal No. 2003-0771
Application No. 09/031,666
determining a footprint for a plurality of nozzles and
configuring and aiming nozzles with respect to a tank such that
predicted footprint and foam run would cover a tank surface with
foam” (abstract). Of particular interest to the examiner is the
following discussion found in the “BACKGROUND” section of
William’s specification:
The past 18 years has witnessed several changes in
the fire fighting industry. Foam delivery nozzles have
enlarged their capacity from 500-1,000 gpm to
6,000-10,000 gpm, or higher. Fire hoses have increased
in size from 2½” diameters to 5”-10” diameters. Foam
pumper capacity has gone from 1,000 gpm to 2,500-6,000
gpm. Importantly, storage tanks for flammable and
combustible liquids have increased in size dramatically
from 125-150 feet diameter to 300-345 feet diameters.
[Column 1, lines 12-20.]
Thorton-Trump discloses a deicer truck for deicing aircraft.
The truck includes an articulated arm assembly having a spray
head 92 at the distal end thereof for delivering deicer fluid to
a selected location. Of interest to the examiner are the deicer
fluid storage tanks 36 and 37 mounted on the truck. With
reference to Figures 1 and 2, Thorton-Trump states at column 3,
lines 50-56, that “[t]ank 36 sits immediately behind the crew
compartment 14 . . . . Tank 37 sits immediately behind tank 36
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