Appeal 2006-2035
Application 09/923,936
THE INVENTION
The Appellants claim a flexible vessel for containing or transporting
fluid or fluidisable material. The vessel is particularly useful for containing
or transporting a large volume of fluid, such as fresh water, having a density
less than that of salt water (Specification 1: 14-20). Claim 1 is illustrative:
1. A flexible containment vessel for the transportation and/or
containment of cargo comprising a fluid or fluidisable material, said
vessel comprising:
an elongated flexible tubular structure comprised of fabric
having a first side and a second side;
said tubular structure being impervious and having a front end
and a rear end;
means for sealing said front end and said rear end;
means for filling and emptying said vessel of cargo; and
means for rendering said tubular structure buoyant comprising
forming said fabric having at least one thermoplastic or thermoset
coating that renders the fabric buoyant.
THE REFERENCES
Hawthorne US 2,997,973 Aug. 29, 1961
McCullough US 4,897,303 Jan. 30, 1990
THE REJECTION
Claims 1-3 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being
unpatentable over Hawthorne in view of McCullough.
OPINION
We affirm the aforementioned rejection.
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