Appeal No. 2002-0922
Application No. 09/305,531
manufacturing an air bag cover assembly. Further details of this
appealed subject matter are recited in representative claim 1
reproduced below:
1. A method of manufacturing an air bag cover
assembly, the method comprising:
providing a front panel, a back plate, a switch
and infrared-absorbing material separate from either
the front panel or the back plate;
positioning the front panel and the back plate so
that the inner surfaces of the front panel and the back
plate define a switch pocket therebetween;
positioning the switch in the switch pocket;
directing infrared radiation at the infrared-
absorbing material for a time sufficient to heat the
infrared-absorbing material to a desired temperature;
controlling the amount of heat applied to the
infrared-absorbing material by the infrared radiation;
and
cooling the heated infrared-absorbing material,
the cooled material fixedly securing the back plate to
the front panel.
The examiner relies on the following prior art references as
evidence of unpatentability:
Swartz 5,151,149 Sep. 29, 1992
Kauer 5,685,561 Nov. 11, 1997
Grimm 5,840,147 Nov. 24, 1998
Claims 1, 2, and 4 on appeal stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
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