Appeal No. 2001-0278
Application 09/069,002
REPRESENTATIVE CLAIM
Claims 10 reads as follow:
10. A method for forming a thermoplastic weld between at least two, fiber-
reinforced composite laminates, comprising the steps of:
(a) assembling at least two laminates to define a bond line along faying surfaces
of the laminates;
(b) positioning a susceptor along the bond line;
(c) heating the laminates along the bond line to weld the laminates together by
heating the susceptor;
(d) nondestructively evaluating the weld quality by analyzing acoustic signals
generated by electromagnetic pulses absorbed in the susceptor; and
(e) rewelding in at least those regions of the weld found to have inadequate
strength.
THE REFERENCES
In rejecting the appealed claim under 35 U.S.C. §103, the Examiner relies on the
following references:
Clark, Jr. et al. (Clark) 4,944,185 Jul. 31, 1990
Kodokian (Kodokian) 5,248,864 Sep. 28, 1993
Mittleider (Mittleider) 5,660,669 Aug. 26, 1997
THE REJECTIONS
Claim 10 stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as unpatentable over
Kodokian in view of Clark.
Claim 10 stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. §103(a) as unpatentable over
Kodokian in view of Clark and Mittleider.
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