Opinion ID: 301048
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the patent in issue

Text: 2 We turn to a consideration of the Alpana patent. Frank W. Hetman, who assigned the patent to Alpana, submitted his patent application on November 7, 1962. The invention, designated as an Insulated Frame and Connector There-for, represented a claimed improvement in the construction of a thermal break frame for metal windows and doors. 3 Since a solid metal frame utilized in an exterior wall of a heated building permits substantial heat loss from the interior of the building as well as moisture condensation upon the interior frame, the insertion of an insulating material or thermal break between the inside and the outside of the frame became necessary. The prior art of such thermal break frames discloses several different configurations of metal parts and insulation designed to minimize heat conductivity. In the Alpana invention the outer and inner frame members connect by way of overlapping flanges and lips extending from each such member. Extruded vinyl insulation fills the space between the overlapping flanges and lips of the inner and outer frame members, thus creating a tight interlocking fit between them, and providing an effective thermal barrier. 4 The following photographs labeled A and B show a cross-section of the Alpana thermal break frame. Photograph B shows an enlarged front view of the same cross-section encircled in photograph A.A 5
6 NOTE: OPINION CONTAINS TABLE OR OTHER DATA THAT IS NOT VIEWABLEB 7 NOTE: OPINION CONTAINS TABLE OR OTHER DATA THAT IS NOT VIEWABLEThe above photographs illustrate the manner of interconnection between the outer and inner frame members, with the space between the overlapping flanges occupied by a vinyl plastic substance which has been extruded into place to provide both insulation and a tight fit. Appellant describes the key feature of the patent in question as follows: 8 [T]he Alpana patent . . . discloses an unique rigid window frame construction including an inner frame, and outer frame, the frames being interlocked with an overlapping arrangement of dual flanges, each flange having a lip with each lip of each of the flanges engaging within a recess in each of an elongated plastic barrier separator member, each barrier with a lip therein and within one of a pair of short flanges and a common bottom wall with movement in any transverse direction prevented with the parts in compression and not in shear thereby providing a rigid interlock connection, which allows expansion and contraction due to temperature changes but still maintaining the high structural integrity . . .. [App.Br. at 9] [emphasis in original] 9 Alpana concedes that its invention is not a pioneer in the field of thermal break frames, but contends that the structural strength provided by its configuration of interlocking frame members distinguishes the invention from the teaching of the prior art, noting particularly that the interlocked frame members are oyerlapped in such a way that they would not separate in the event that the vinyl insulator were to be destroyed by fire or otherwise. 10 Although the Alpana patent contains two claims, Alpana relied solely upon the second claim in this litigation. 1 The district court rejected the validity of this claim on two separate grounds: first, for obviousness of the subject matter of Claim 2, tested by the requirements of 35 U.S.C. Sec. 103; 2 and second for want of the specificity required by 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112 in describing the subject matter of the claim 3 because of the patent applicant's failure to particularly point out and distinctly claim the overlap feature as a key feature of the invention. 11 Because our affirmance of the district court rests upon the first of these two grounds, we find it unnecessary to consider the specificity issue.