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
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