Appeal 2006-3193
Application 10/772,595
metal salts include . . . zinc salts such as . . . zinc sulfate” (Specification
5:15 and 6:22).
3) “Boron may alternatively be introduced into the electroplating
bath by a boron containing acid. . . . The boron containing acid does not
include boric acid, as boric acid improves conductivity and/or is used as
a pH adjuster. It is noted that the boric acid does not provide a
significant portion of platable boron, although in some instances it may
provide minor amounts of platable boron (Specification 7:5-11).
FINDINGS OF FACT – PRIOR ART
4) JP ‘693 claims a nickel or nickel alloy electroplating bath
comprising nickel salts or nickel salts and at least on selected from
water-soluble salts of boron, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese,
phosphorus, tin, and zinc and quaternary ammonium compounds as
brighteners (claim 1).
5) Passal discloses “a process for the preparation of an electrodeposit
which contains at least one metal selected from the group consisting of
nickel and cobalt” (Passal, col. 2, ll. 32-34). In particular, Passal
discloses the use of additives to “improve the tolerance of nickel, cobalt,
and alloy plating baths containing nickel and/or cobalt to the adverse
effects of both metallic impurities and relatively high concentrations of
primary brighteners” (Passal, col. 1, ll. 46-50).
6) Passal discloses that metallic impurities such as zinc are
introduced into the plating bath composition in various ways, including
the use of commercial grade salts to prepare the bath and the dissolution
of parts which may fall into the plating bath during the plating process
(Passal, col. 1, ll. 51-72).
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