Appeal No. 2006-0892 Page 4
Application No. 10/202,701
While Yang furnishes an example of a bipolar plate
configuration having an eight inch width and length, Yang clearly
is not limited to that exemplified embodiment. Indeed, Yang
makes it clear that such an equal length and width bipolar plate
configuration is merely illustrative by expressly noting that
other configurations of the plate are within the purview of the
disclosed invention. See column 6, lines 3-5 of Yang.
In this regard, the claimed rectangular geometry for a
bipolar plate flow region would have been well within the ambit
of one of ordinary skill in the art from the disclosure of Yang
given that disclosure concerning the inclusion of a variety of
geometries or configurations for the plate structures thereof.
Concerning this matter, Yang provides that the bipolar plate
configuration should allow for the requisite uniform pressure
drop and desired clearing of reactants and humidity from the
channels in the flow regions of the bipolar plates by using flow
restrictions in those channels as taught by Yang (column 3, lines
3-43). After all, the configuration or shape of the plates and
associated flow regions of Yang in a rectangular geometry would
be attended by a reasonable expectation of success in that
bipolar plates and flow regions of such shapes would be expected
to operate with the desired reactant and humidity clearing
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