Appeal No. 95-4871
Application No. 08/172,666
In Whatmore, a piezoelectric composite is fabricated from
a plurality of piezoelectric ceramic rods 2 that are placed in
openings in a non-conductive fiber composite material (i.e.,
KEVLAR) reinforcing structure 14 (Figure 3). Wingrove
discloses (Figure 2) an implantable hearing aid that includes
a piezoelectric ceramic 15 encapsulated within an epoxy
coating 18, and a silicon rubber 19. Both references disclose
the claimed ceramic material, but neither ceramic material is
encapsulated in a non-conductive fiber composite material.
The examiner’s rejection (Answer, pages 3 and 4) is as
follows:
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill
in the art to adhere a material such as KEVLAR,
which use is shown by Whatmore, to the piezoelectric
ceramic in the device of Wingrove, in place of the
silicon material around his piezoelectric ceramic.
KEVLAR is a very well known material which has
characteristics of withstanding excessive force
without braking [sic, breaking]. Thus, it extends
the life spancs [sic, span] of the devices it
covers. Alternatively it would have been obvious to
one of ordinary skill in the art to effect complete
encapsulation of Whatmore’s device, which
encapsulation is shown by Wingrove, in order to
provide for more protection of the piezoelectric
ceramic within. Again in this instance, the life
span of the device could be extended, resulting in
cost savings due to longer life and to longer mean
time between failures because of a reduction of
structural deficiencies.
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