Appeal No. 2006-1076
Application No. 10/147,252
cap, spacing the end cap and a filter medium apart from one another during the
directing step, and
establishing contact between the fused portion of the end cap and the filter
medium so as to bond the fused portion and the filter medium together upon re-
solidification of the fused portion.
26. The method of claim 22, wherein the relative rotation step comprises
causing the laser beam to impinge upon the end up a zig-zag pattern around a
central axis of the end cap.
32. A method of making a filter module comprising an annular end cap
comprising a radially outer region, a radially inner region, and a middle region
positioned radially between the outer and inner regions, the method comprising
the steps of
relatively rotating the end cap and a laser beam directed at the middle
region but not at the outer and inner regions so as to fuse the middle region,
spacing the end cap and an annular filter medium apart from one another
while the laser beam is directed at the middle region, and
establishing contact between the fused middle region and an end of the
annular filter medium so as to bond the fused middle region and the end of the
filter medium together upon re-solidification of the middle region.
37. The method of claim 32, comprising masking the outer and inner
regions.
References Relied on by the Examiner
The examiner relies upon the following references as evidence of unpatentability:
Kasten et al. (Kasten) 2,771,156 Nov. 20, 1956
Pall et al. (Pall) 3,457,339 Jul. 22, 1969
Gordon 4,675,065 Jun. 23, 1987
Okada 6,410,882 Jun. 25, 2002
Japanese Patent publication JP 61229492 A Oct. 13, 1986
(Hitachi LTD)
Page 2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007