Appeal 2007-1252
Application 10/915,714
the figures on Katwala which are neither numbered nor described in the
Specification, one of which is what appears to be an o-ring (a sealing member)
which is shown surrounding the contacts (item 18) of the contact retainer body
(item 16). It appears that this o-ring is sealed between contact retainer body item
16 and shroud section (item 32).
ANALYSIS
Independent claim 1 recites “a coupler housing having a first end and a
second end; a coupler member receiving said connector and secured to said first
end of said coupler housing; a sealing member disposed on said coupler member
and abutting said first end of said coupler housing.” Thus, the scope of claim 1
includes that the sealing member is “on” the coupler member and “abutting” the
first end of the coupler housing. We highlight the terms “on” and “abutting” as
they are both used in the claim, and, as such, we consider them to have different
meanings. In the context of claim 1, we construe the term “on” to mean “overlay”
or on “top of” (see, for example, Appellant’s figure 3, sealing member 81 is on
item 41). Similarly, in the context of claim 1, we construe the term “abut” to mean
to "come against," or to "contact" (see, for example, Appellant’s figure 3, sealing
member 81 abuts item 21 and raised surface of item 41).
Turning to the Examiner’s rejection of claim 1 based upon Bernardi, the
Examiner finds that it would have been obvious to include a sealing member
between item 28 and item 20. We concur that a skilled artisan would have found it
obvious to put sealing members between the various components to keep out
environmental hazards which may interfere with the electrical connection.
However, we disagree with the Examiner’s holding that the specific arrangement
of elements in claim 1 is made obvious by Bernardi. As discussed supra, claim 1
recites that the sealing member be on the coupler member, the item that receives
5
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013