Appeal No. 2007-0358
Application 10/873,477
“specific areas” to encompass any number of areas without any limitation to
location. Likewise, we construe the recitation “control mechanism associated with
said spraying device for controlling said specific areas” to encompass any type of
control mechanism including a mechanical switch operating in concert with
solenoids.
Also, neither claim 11 nor the specification places any limitation on the
“respective region” recited in claim 11. Thus, we construe this term to encompass
any region within the dishwasher, including a vicinity of the spray device outlet.
Claim 1 -- 35 U.S.C. § 102(b)
DE ‘670 describes a dishwasher in which the intensity of the spray action
can be adjusted or shifted according to the degree of soiling of the dishes.
(Translation at 2, lines 4-5.) According to the reference, “if very dirty dishes are to
be cleaned...the intensity of the spraying must be considerably increased...” and
this is accomplished by reducing the number of active nozzles. (Id. at 3, lines 3-
18.)
Figure 1 of DE ‘670 is said to depict a dishwashing machine consisting of:
housing 1, the upper area of which, separated from the lower part by a plate, has
devices 2, 3, 4, and 5 for holding dishes; spray nozzles 7-10 located on the bottom
surface 6 of the upper area and connected to pump 12 driven by motor 11; and a
11
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