Appeal No. 1997-2947
Application No. 08/352,079
The Rejections
(1) Claims 6-8 and 11-12 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112, second paragraph.
(2) Claims 6-7 and 11-12 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as unpatentable
over Patil or Dunne.
(3) Claim 8 stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as unpatentable over Patil or
Dunne in view of Abe.
(4) Claims 6-8 and 11-12 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as unpatentable
over Abe.
Findings of Fact
The Patil Reference
Patil describes an engine exhaust system designed to reduce hydrocarbon emissions.
(Col. 1, lines 6-7). More particularly, the system addresses the pollution problems associated
with engine start-up, when, because traditional catalytic systems have not yet reached an efficient
operating temperature, hydrocarbon gases are discharged by the exhaust system. (Col. 1, lines
8-13). Generally, the catalysts used in catalytic converter systems are inefficient or inactive at
ambient temperature and must reach temperatures in the range of 300 to 400 oC before they are
activated. (Col. 1, lines 29-32).
Patil’s invention provides an engine exhaust system having two catalytic converters, A &
B. (Col. 2, lines 31-43). In many cases, the first converter A comprises a three-way converter
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