Appeal 2007-1391
Application 10/875.047
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
The subject matter on appeal is directed to a check valve seal for a
metal injecting molding machine or die casting machine. (Specification 1).
The check valve seal “effectively seals the injection channel [of the valve] to
prevent the backflow of the molten metal into the supply cylinder [of the
valve] during the injection stroke.” (Specification 3). The check valve seal
is a ring having a groove in its forward face, which upon receiving molten
metal, forces an outer circumferential portion of the ring to expand in a
radial direction to provide a seal between the ring and a molding machine.
(Specification 4). Further details of the appeal subject matter are recited in
representative claim 1 reproduced below:
1. A seal for a check valve of a molding machine, said seal
comprising a ring having a rear surface engageable with a surface of said
valve to block flow of injection material into an [sic, a] melt passageway and
a groove interior of a circumferential surface of said ring and extending from
a forward surface of said valve [sic, ring] toward said rear surface.
The Examiner has relied upon the following sole prior art reference as
evidence of unpatentability:
Gatti US 6,585,001 B2 Jul. 1, 2003
The Examiner has rejected claims 1 and 2 under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as
anticipated by Gatti. (Answer 4).
ISSUE
Has the Examiner demonstrated that Gatti describes a groove interior
of a circumferential surface of a seal ring extending from a forward surface
of the valve toward the rear surface within the meaning of 35 U.S.C.
§ 102(b)?
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013