Appeal No. 1999-0761 2
Application No. 08/174, 957
THE INVENTION
The invention is to a method for treating an aluminum surface wherein an aluminum
alloy heated to a temperature of 200oC or above is etched in a single step process by
exposing the surface to a basic solution containing a chelating agent. Additional
limitations are disclosed in the following illustrative claim.
THE CLAIM
Claim 1 is illustrative of appellants’ invention and is reproduced below:
1. A method for treating the surface of an aluminum alloy high-
temperature processed article, comprising heating an aluminum alloy containing
Mg at a high temperature of 200o of [sic, or] above, etching the surface by a
single step process of exposing the surface to an aqueous solution containing a
chelating agent wherein the aqueous solution consists of a solution having a pH
of 7 or higher, and then carrying out hydration oxidation treatment.1
THE REFERENCES OF RECORD
As evidence of obviousness, the examiner relies upon the following references:
Chakrabarti et al. (Chakrabarti) 5,055,257 Oct. 8, 1991
Lowenheim, Electroplating, pp. 74-77, 89-91, and 463-67 (McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1978)
THE REJECTIONS
Claims 1, 7 through 15 and 17 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being
unpatentable over the admitted prior art in view of Lowenheim.
Claims 1, 7 through 15 and 17 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being
unpatentable over Chakrabarti in view of the admitted prior art and Lowenheim.
1Claim 1 as originally filed contained the word “or.” The amendments to claim 1 thereafter contained
the word “of” in place of “or.” The change in terminology, however, was not made in accordance with 37 CFR
§ 1.121(b).
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