Appeal No. 2006-1482
Application No. 10/619,890
of explosives used for detonating a high explosive.1” Because
the igniter of Adams is a small device that can be used for
igniting explosives in a mining operation, we find that Adams
meets the definition of a detonator.
In addition, we note that in an inflator for an airbag, an
electric current is sent to the detonator, which ignites the
reactive material.2 From the disclosure that the igniter for an
airbag is a detonator, we find that the claim language of a
detonator is met by the airbag inflator of Adams. Accordingly,
we are not persuaded by appellants’ assertion (brief, page 5)
that the rejection does not address the clear structural and
functional differences between a detonator and the ignitor
disclosed by Adams. We add that from the Dictionary definition
and Web article to LemurZone, taken with the disclosure of Adams,
we find that Adams is capable of dual utility as both an igniter
and as a detonator, and that the igniter of Adams acts as a
1A copy of the pertinent page(s) of the Dictionary are attached to our Decision.
2 See the attached document “Inflators in Airbags - Supplemental Restraint
Systems - The LemurZone Airbag pages,” as the Web page existed on June 11, 2000.
A copy of the Web page is attached to our Decision.
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