Appeal No. 2005-1943 Application No. 09/091,508 thereof. The examiner states that the length and diameter would have been a matter of choice by the user. The examiner points out that Pall ‘012 teaches that filter capacity can be modified by linking together filter cartridges. In this way, the examiner shows that the length therefore is a matter of choice by the user. Answer, pages 7-8. On page 8 of the answer, the examiner states that the interior diameter likewise is a result effective variable element. Appellants argue, inter alia, that Pall ‘923 discloses two annular filter units, in an end-to-end relation, separated by an annular adaptor. Appellants argue that the annular adaptor maintains a second filter element in reserve, and entirely separated from the primary element in such a manner that normal flow bypasses the second reserve element. Appellants emphasize that Pall ‘923 teaches that the reserve filter does not come into use until the primary filter element becomes plugged. Brief, page 4. At the top of page 5 of the brief, appellants also argue that Pall ‘923 teaches directly away from securing adjacent open joiner caps to connect the pack sections into a hollow separation arrangement “that allows fluids to flow through all of the pack sections connected by the open joiner caps.” We are not convinced by the above-mentioned arguments for the following reasons. Firstly, as correctly pointed out by the examiner on page 12 -4-Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 NextLast modified: November 3, 2007