Appeal No. 2005-1943
Application No. 09/091,508
make two shorter pack sections into a single larger element. At
the top of page 2 of the reply brief, appellants argue that the
end cap 18 and 25 of Pall ‘923 are not joiner caps and are not
joined to one another. Appellants argue that these caps are
separated from one another both physically and functionally by a
relief valve assembly.
Claim 1 recites, inter alia, “open joiner caps attached to
at least one end of each of the two or more pack sections,
adjacent open joiner caps being secured to coaxially connect the
pack sections.” Pall ‘923 teaches that lower end cap 18 as shown
in Figure 2 rests upon adapter ring 19, which is securely held
between housing portions 20 and 21 by V-ring clamp 8, for proper
placement and support of the upper filter element 15 in the
housing. See column 3, lines 14-20. Lower cap 18 has a
downwardly extending inner flange fitting snugly against ring 19,
and a fluid-tight seal therebetween is ensured by O-ring 22. See
column 3, lines 20-23. End caps 18 and 25 are provided with a
central aperture communicating in the central open area enclosed
by the primary reserve filter elements 15 and 16, and together
constituting the central passage 5. See column 3, lines 37-40.
In this way, end caps 18 and 25 connect pack sections 15 and 16
into a hollow separation arrangement. Hence, we are not
convinced by appellants’ arguments in this regard.
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