Fletcher YoderThe term “clear” was construed to mean “transparent” or “having the property of transmitting light without appreciable scattering,” and was distinguished from “translucent.” The construction was supported by the written description, the prosecution history, and dictionary definitions.
To define a word in a claim, first consider surrounding claim language and ordinary meaning (i.e., via a dictionary) prior to consulting the written description and prosecution history. Furthermore, for a 112, para. 6 claim, a single structure disclosed in the specification may support (be linked to) more than one function in the claim.