Appeal No. 2005-1485
Application No. 10/317,040
layer of the cut gemstones without causing any damage thereto due
to unwanted reactions. See the specification, pages 1-3. The
method lies in placing and heating cut gemstones on a solid plate
made of color-producing metal or metal oxide. Id. Further details
of the appealed subject matter are recited in claims 1 and 21 which
are reproduced below:
1. A method of coloring cut gemstones by introducing
metal or metal oxide into a surface layer by heat treatment,
wherein during the heat treatment the gemstones are laid on a
solid plate and the metal or metal oxide forms a substantial
constituent of the plate.
21. A method of coloring cut gemstones by introducing
metal or metal oxide into a surface layer by heat treatment,
comprising:
laying the cut gemstones on a solid plate, the metal or
metal oxide forming a substantial constituent of the plate;
and
performing heat treatment with the cut gemstones on the
solid plate such that the metal or metal oxide is introduced
into the surface layer of the cut gemstones.
In support of his rejections, the examiner relies on the
following prior art references:
Nagasawa et al. (Nagasawa) 3,805,124 Apr. 16, 1974
Hazelrigg, Jr. et al. (Hazelrigg) 4,061,549 Dec. 6, 1977
Gibson 5,791,237 Aug. 11, 1998
Pollak 5,888,918 Mar. 30, 1999
2
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