Appeal 2006-2384
Application 10/003,037
Appellants appeal under 35 U.S.C. § 134(a) from the Examiner’s
decision rejecting claims 1, 2, 5, 6, 9-15, 28, 29, and 32.1 We have
jurisdiction under 35 U.S.C. § 6(b).
We REVERSE.
I. BACKGROUND
The invention relates to a covering system and methods relating to
venting the covering system. Claims 1,2 28, and 32 are illustrative of the
subject matter on appeal:
1. A covering system comprising:
a first membrane a top surface and an opposing bottom surface;
a first flotation member coupled to the first membrane, wherein the
first flotation member includes a first float and a first float
compartment membrane having an inside surface and an
opposing outside surface, and wherein the first float
compartment membrane is coupled to the first membrane; and
a first plurality of gas-relief passageways positioned either:
within the first float compartment membrane and extending
between the inside and opposing outside surfaces, or
1 An amendment was filed concurrently with the Notice of Appeal canceling
claim 33 (Amendment filed November 21, 2005). This Amendment was
entered and, therefore, claim 33 has been canceled (Advisory Action of
Dec. 22, 2005).
2 Appellants filed an amendment with the Brief which inserts “having” into
the first clause of claim 1 “in order to correct its inadvertent omission from
the claim 1 amendment of the March 22, 2005 response.” (Br. 1 at ¶ IV; see
also Amendment filed December 20, 2005). The Examiner should enter the
amendment upon receipt of the application so that the inadvertent omission
is corrected.
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013