Search the Archives           Subscribe           About this News Service           Reader Comments


Archived updates for Tuesday, January 15, 2008

"A" Means "One or More" Unless Clear Intent to Limit to One

In Baldwin Graphic Systems v. Siebert (January 15, 2007), the Federal Circuit reiterated that
the indefinite article ‘a’ or ‘an’ in patent parlance carries the meaning of ‘one or more’ in open-ended claims containing the transitional phrase "comprising:"

. . . . That "a" or "an" can mean "one or more" is best described as a rule, rather than merely as a presumption or even a convention. The exceptions to this rule are extremely limited: a patentee must "evince[ ] a clear intent" to limit "a" or "an" to "one." Id. The subsequent use of definite articles "the" or "said" in a claim to refer back to the same claim term does not change the general plural rule, but simply reinvokes that non-singular meaning. An exception to the general rule that "a" or "an" means more than one only arises where the language of the claims themselves, the specification, or the prosecution history necessitate a departure from the rule. See, e.g., Abtox Inc. v. Exitron Corp., 122 F.3d 1019 (Fed. Cir. 1997); Insituform Techs., Inc. v. Cat Contracting, Inc., 99 F.3d 1098 (Fed. Cir. 1996).

This record does not contain a clear indication that the applicant departed from the general rule for the article "a." Nothing in the claim language, specification, or prosecution history compels an exceptional reading of "a" in this case. The district court erred by misapplying the term "said fabric roll" later in the claim and the phrase "in intimate contact with the fabric roll" in the specification. Initial Order, slip op. at 8. As noted above, the use of a definite article ("said" or "the") to refer back to an initial indefinite article does not implicate, let alone mandate the singular. Because the initial indefinite article ("a") carries either a singular or plural meaning, any later reference to that same claim element merely reflects the same potential plurality. In grammatical terms, the instances of "said fabric roll" in the claim are anaphoric phrases, referring to the initial antecedent phrase. Because the initial phrase carries no definitive numerosity, the anaphoric phrases do not alter that meaning in the slightest.

Contrary to the district court’s analysis, § 2173.05(e) of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) does not suggest otherwise. Section 2173.05(e) describes the need, in most cases, for claim terms to have proper antecedent bases:

The lack of clarity could arise where a claim refers to "said lever" or "the
lever," where the claim contains no earlier recitation or limitation of a lever and where it would be unclear as to what element the limitation was making reference. Similarly, if two different levers are recited earlier in
the claim, the recitation of "said lever" in the same or subsequent claim would be unclear where it is uncertain which of the two levers was intended.

MPEP § 2173.05(e). According to the district court, § 2173.05(e) "only strengthens" the exclusively singular nature of "a pre-soaked fabric roll," because "the use of ‘said fabric roll’ implies that the prior reference to ‘a fabric roll’ should be read as a single roll, not one or more rolls, in order to avoid confusion." Initial Order, slip op. 7. To the contrary, MPEP § 2173.05(e) is inapposite because the limitations in claim 32 all relate to proper antecedent bases. Thus, the confusion or indefiniteness problem addressed by § 2173.05(e) does not arise in this claim.

The district court’s reliance on language in the specification to limit "a pre-soaked fabric roll" to a single roll is similarly unavailing. The phrase "disposed around and in
intimate contact with the fabric roll" appears twice in the specification of the Reissue patent, and describes the relationship between the plastic sleeve and the fabric roll. Reissue patent, col.2 ll.22-23, col.3 ll.17-18. This description does not require a single pre-soaked fabric roll. Under the terms of this description, the plastic sleeve could be in intimate contact with multiple fabric rolls, like the plastic wrapping on a package of several hot dogs is in intimate contact with each of the hot dogs, despite the fact that the hot dogs themselves contact each other as well as the packaging. Appellant’s Br. at 13. This description contains no requirement, implicit or explicit, that the plastic sleeve must be in intimate contact with the entire fabric roll. For these reasons, "a pre-soaked fabric roll" as used in claim 32 of the Reissue patent is not limited to a single roll.

    (13)comment(s)     translate     More Updates     Send    

13 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

kenapa keputihan tidak normal dan mengeluarkan nanah obat kutil herbal di kemaluan cara menghilangkan kutil kemaluan secara alami tips menghindari kutil kelamin tips menghilangkan kencing nanah cara mengobati kelamin keluar nanah obat alam tradisional kencing bernanah obat kutil di kemaluan pria obat kemaluan keluar nanah Obat Ambeien Ampuh Tradisional Resep Obat Wasir obat alami untuk gejala wasir Mengobati Wasir Secara Alami Obat ampuh atasi wasir Obat herbal efektif menyembuhkan wasir Obat untuk kelamin laki laki keluar cairan nanah Obat kemaluan keluar nanah atau gonore Obat cairan nanah keluar dari alat kelamin Mengapa kencing sakit dan keluar cairan nanah Mengapa kencing perih dan keluar nanah Mengapa nanah keluar dari kelamin Obat untuk kutil di sekitar bibir vagina Obat kencing nanah manjur menghilangkan benjolan kutil di vagina wanita

July 01, 2015 5:23 PM  
Blogger raybanoutlet001 said...

fitflops
jordan shoes
sac longchamp
ralph lauren uk
nike outlet
nike outlet
polo ralph lauren outlet
ugg boots
michael kors bags
omega watches sale

July 08, 2017 2:43 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

louis vuitton sacs
coach outlet store
pandora outlet
oakley sunglasses
michael kors handbags
gucci shoes
oklahoma city thunder jerseys
coach outlet
nike huarache
coach outlet

August 02, 2017 1:42 AM  
Blogger adidas nmd said...

ralph lauren outlet
prada shoes
polo outlet
polo ralph lauren outlet
polo ralph lauren
polo ralph lauren
polo ralph lauren
ralph lauren outlet
ralph lauren outlet
ralph lauren outlet

November 15, 2017 3:14 AM  
Blogger qqqqqq said...

yeezy boost 350
pandora jewelry
off white clothing
michael kors handbags
curry 3
reebok shoes
westbrook shoes
nike free run
adidas outlet
cartier bracelet

January 23, 2018 3:25 AM  
Anonymous Obat Penghilang Nyeri Lutut said...

This information is very useful. thank you for sharing. and I will also share information about health through the website

Obat Benjolan Di Ketiak
Obat Penghilang Nyeri Pada Payudara
Pengobatan Sangkadi
Cara Mengobati Gabagen
Cara Mengobati Kuku Cantengan
Cara Menyembuhkan nyeri punggung

April 03, 2018 2:45 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

WWW0601
mont blanc pens
adidas outlet
fitflops
michael kors uk
michael kors outlet
canada goose outlet
g-star jeans
nba jerseys
oakley sunglasses wholesale
jack wolfskin

May 31, 2018 10:59 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

www0712

dc shoes
fitflops sale clearance
ubiq shoes
soccer jerseys
michael kors handbags
mcm outlet
champion clothing
michael kors
kings jerseys
nhl jerseys






July 12, 2018 5:47 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

0730jejeVoici quelques-unes nike air max 1 bleu pas cher des marques basket fille new balance pas cher les plus nike air jordan blanche rouge fréquentes. L'extrémité nike air max 90 ultra moire pas cher moyenne et supérieure air jordan true flight france est dominée par asics tiger gel lyte iii femme les nike free flyknit nsw limited edition for running flyknit deux autres formes. nike air pas cher femme

July 30, 2018 2:18 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

0730jejeLorsque vous nike air max 90 mesh pas cher jetez un coup d'œil à l'intérieur des sacs de joueurs, nike chaussures a talons vous remarquez que la plupart d'entre eux combinent fausse nike roshe run homme généralement des lames avec des cavités basket nike roshe run noir pour créer leur ensemble. Les joueurs qui nike bordeaux femme pas cher attaquent fort à la jante et peuvent pénétrer vente new balance france avec une vitesse comme Rajon Rondo et Russell chaussure nike air max bw pas cher Westbrook.

July 30, 2018 3:49 AM  
Blogger miki said...

0814jejeAir Jordan 12 France En d'autres termes, basket nike air max 1 femme pas cher vous n'avez plus à nourrir très peu les bras et les jambes air max 90 pas cher nike à travers de petites ouvertures. Des chaussures de nike air max bw france camo travail spécialement conçues ont bénéficié de l'ingénierie et des matériaux Air Jordan Eclipse Homme modernes et sont devenues une nécessité pour les athlètes air jordan 11 low et les coureurs amateurs. Par exemple, bien que les chaussures nike homme blanche gens en Amérique pourraient être rapides dans la prise asics gel lyte 3 argent de décision finale, les cultures asiatiques sont généralement léthargiques mais absolument sûrs. air jordan pas cher boutique avis
Dans la plupart air jordan femme go sport des pays, il peut y avoir un examen que vous choisissez de passer lorsque vous choisissez d'être chaussure nike femme cortez un ophtalmologiste agréé. Non seulement les chaussures mesureront ces informations, mais elles basket junior nike air max 2017 vous fourniront également les retours et les résultats via votre asics basket ball smartphone! Maintenant c'est tout simplement génial! Il a également annoncé que Lebron James sera accessoire air jordan le premier participant à avoir et endosser les baskets. Beaucoup adidas zx 500 weave femme pensent que la ligne de chaussures DC et d'autres de ce marché vont chaussures nike air pegasus 89 faire des progrès cette année et réduire les autres ventes sur le marché en 2011.

August 14, 2018 1:49 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

www0903


michael kors
polo ralph lauren outlet
kate spade handbags
true religion outlet
polo lacoste
ugg boots clearance
dsquared
ralph lauren uk
coach outlet
ultra boost 3.0

September 02, 2018 11:09 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

صيانة سيمنس
صيانة بومباني
صيانة الاسكا
صيانة فريش
صيانة جولدي
صيانة كريازي
صيانة يونيفرسال
صيانة توشيبا العربي

April 14, 2019 6:33 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home