Appeal No. 2006-0435 Application 10/028,173 effectively eliminate or reduce cracking of the surface coating in view of the soft, pliant nature of the underlying cloth substrate. In other words, in order to generate sufficient force on the surface coating from the rolls, an ordinary artisan might well expect that the cloth substrate would have to be substantially compressed. In this regard, we note that the cloth substrate is generally a porous fabric according to Allen. Second, we note that at least in some applications the coating layer is likely to be present throughout a significant portion of the cloth as in Allen (col. 5, lines 16-22). Certainly in those applications an artisan would understand that the requisite compression/deformation necessary to prevent cracking of the coating may very well require more than superficial compression of the entire coated cloth. In this context we are well aware that Fan (page 2, para. 20) does not require impregnation of the carbon cloth and, indeed, considers it undesirable. Nevertheless, where impregnation is mandated (as in Allen), the requisite compression to reduce cracking would no doubt be considerable. Appellant has not shown otherwise. Thus, selection of a particular value or range for a recognized result-effective variable (here compression or compressive force) to achieve optimum results is considered to be, prima facie, within the realm of ordinary skill absent a showing of any unexpected result. See In re Boesch, 617 F.2d 272, 276, 205 USPQ 215, 219 (CCPA 1980); In re Aller, 220 F.2d 454, 456, 105 USPQ 233, 235 (CCPA 1955). 4Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 NextLast modified: November 3, 2007