Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[George White]

The examiner agrees with us that all the embodiments described and shown are patently distinct from all the art he cited but says the broadest reasonable meaning of my claim wording can be read as encompassing the cited references. So I am looking for snippets of wording suggestions. (I have already posted on this topic on the NAPP members-only board.) The teachings involve an enclosed fluid channel, open on each end, made of an elastomeric material and including a simple valve. The one I am defining has a cleaning configuration in which the channel is opened - split apart longitudinally into two or more (possibly connected) portions, opening up the inside of the channel completely. Any valve flap ends up aon  portion distinct from the portion with its corresponding valve seat. Any small outlet hole or slit has portions of its adjacent, fluid restricting edges also pulled apart leaving the unit in a stable configuration in which all fluid contacting regions are fully exposed for cleaning.  I have used something like "all internal liquid-contacting surfaces become fully exposed external surfaces when . . . into a cleaning configuration . . . " . What is external? how exposed is fully exposed? The spec, does talk about not needing to use a small brush, disassembling
manually, water freely running over all the surfaces, etc.

thanks, George

[SoCalProductDev]

The examiner agrees with us that all the embodiments described and shown are patently distinct from all the art he cited but says the broadest reasonable meaning of my claim wording can be read as encompassing the cited references. So I am looking for snippets of wording suggestions. (I have already posted on this topic on the NAPP members-only board.) The teachings involve an enclosed fluid channel, open on each end, made of an elastomeric material and including a simple valve. The one I am defining has a cleaning configuration in which the channel is opened - split apart longitudinally into two or more (possibly connected) portions, opening up the inside of the channel completely. Any valve flap ends up aon  portion distinct from the portion with its corresponding valve seat. Any small outlet hole or slit has portions of its adjacent, fluid restricting edges also pulled apart leaving the unit in a stable configuration in which all fluid contacting regions are fully exposed for cleaning.  I have used something like "all internal liquid-contacting surfaces become fully exposed external surfaces when . . . into a cleaning configuration . . . " . What is external? how exposed is fully exposed? The spec, does talk about not needing to use a small brush, disassembling
manually, water freely running over all the surfaces, etc.

thanks, George

A channel for fluid made of an elastomeric material with  an inside surface, an outside surface, a first end opening, a second end opening, at least one longitudinal perforation, a valve seat and a valve flap   /   said longitudinal perforation can be placed in a stable open or stable closed position   /   said fluid contacts the said inside surface  /  said channel is capable of being placed into a cleaning configuration wherein said at least one longitudinal perforation is placed into said stable open position such that said cleaning configuration exposes said inside surface in such a way that cleaning can be accomplished with freely running water over said inside surface and said outside surface.....

(I think that my attempt at claim drafting sounds like replacement parts for Frankenstein drafted by Frankenstein without understanding the technology or proper claim drafting.)