Appeal No. 2000-1835
Application No. 08/868,092 Page 5
As such, appellants principal argument with respect to the
subject matter found in claims 13 and 21 is that “. . . Pendleton
does not suggest the use of a hydroxyl ammonium compound as a
reducing agent generally . . .” (brief, page 6).
However, as explained above, Pendleton does teach that
hydroxylamine sulfate may be employed as a reducing agent.
Hydroxylamine sulfate1 can be defined as a hydroxyl ammonium
sulfate, which is a hydroxyl ammonium compound. Consequently, we
agree with the examiner’s obviousness conclusion with respect to
claims 13 and 21.
Regarding dependent claims 20 and 23, we note that Florio
discloses that carbon black and graphite may each be used alone
or together as carbonaceous particles as a coating material prior
to electroplating. See column 5, line 40 through column 6, line
21 and column 9, lines 39-41 of Florio. Consequently, we agree
with the examiner’s determination that it would have been obvious
for one of ordinary skill in the art to employ graphite in
addition to or in place of carbon black as the carbonaceous
material used in the coating dispersion of Pendleton with the
reasonable expectation of obtaining similar results. See answer,
1
1 See the definition of hydroxylamine sulfate at page 460 of
Hawley, The Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 8th Ed. (1975). A
copy is attached to this decision.
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