Ex Parte Pflaesterer - Page 2

               Appeal  2006-0249                                                                           
               Application 10/315,401                                                                      

                                            INTRODUCTION                                                   
                      The claims are directed to an elastic sealing element (e.g., Fig. 1 at               
               17) that encloses the cell separator plates and membrane electrode assembly                 
               of a fuel cell.  The sealing element includes a peripheral sealing band (e.g.,              
               Fig. 1 at 28) and a peripheral sealing strip (e.g., Fig. 1 at 20).  Claim 1 is              
               illustrative:                                                                               
                      1. A sealing arrangement for fuel cells having including at least one                
               composite formed of two cell separator plates with a deformable membrane                    
               electrode assembly placed therebetween, the deformable membrane                             
               electrode assembly being composed of two porous, gas-permeable plates or                    
               layers and an ion-exchange membrane placed therebetween, the membrane                       
               electrode assembly having lateral surfaces set back with respect to lateral                 
               surfaces of the cell separator plates to leave a sealing gap, the sealing                   
               arrangement comprising:                                                                     
                      an elastic sealing element having a sealing band peripherally                        
               enclosing the composite and having a peripheral sealing strip extending into                
               the sealing gap to seal the sealing gap in a gas-tight manner by compression                
               between the cell separator plates.                                                          
                                                                                                          
                      The Examiner relies on the following prior art references to show                    
               unpatentability:                                                                            
               Kühl    US 3,746,176   Nov. 5, 1974                                                         
               Singelyn    US 4,774,154   Sep. 27, 1988                                                    
               Schmid   US 6,080,503    Jun. 27, 2000                                                      
               Inoue     US 2002/0055027 A1   May 9, 2002                                                  
               Wozniczka   GB 2 368 968 A    May 15, 2002                                                  
               Osenar   US 2002/0068212 A1    Jun. 6, 2002                                                 








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