Appeal 2007-1922
Application 10/051,200
several methods of removing the solid molded product from the
mold involves sending compressed air inside the cap as soon as
the lower half-mold has moved away from the plunger, and the
feeding of compressed air “inflates” the cap and partially spaces
the thread C from the portion 9, reducing the resistance of the cap
to expulsion (col. 1, ll. 6-8; col. 6, ll. 38-60; and Fig. 11).
During prosecution before the Examiner, the verbiage of the proposed
claims should be given its broadest reasonable meaning of the words in their
ordinary usage as they would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the
art, taking into account any enlightenment or definitions contained in the
applicant’s written description in the specification. See In re Morris,
127 F.3d 1048, 1054, 44 USPQ2d 1023, 1027 (Fed. Cir. 1997).
Accordingly, the first step in an obviousness analysis is proper claim
construction. Therefore, we first look to Appellant’s Specification to find
the proper meaning of the word “inflated” as used in claim 8 on appeal. See
Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1315, 75 USPQ2d 1321, 1327 (Fed.
Cir. 2005)(en banc)(“…the specification ‘is always highly relevant to the
claim construction analysis. Usually, it is dispositive; it is the single best
guide to the meaning of a disputed term.’”). Appellant’s Specification does
not define “inflated” per se but teaches that this word is equivalent to
“expanded” (Specification 5:28-31; 6:4-7). This equivalency in the
Specification comports with the ordinary usage of the word “inflate” as
meaning “to swell or distend with air or gas,” “to expand or increase
6
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013