Appeal No. 97-1037
Application 08/467,869
was that the adhesive layer was destroyed when subjected to high
pressure and high temperature, causing the steel strips to
separate from one another.4
The rejection of claims 1 through 3, and 5
We affirm the rejection of these claims under 35 U.S.C.
§ 103.
Claim 1 is drawn to a vibration-and-noise damping
insert for the brakes of automotive vehicles comprising,
two metal plates and a damping layer enclosed
there between, wherein said damping layer is
thinner than each of said metal plates and is
comprised of a rubber layer which is a sheet
that is formed and subsequently vulcanized to
the two metal plates.5
4We perceive from this prior art disclosure that, as to the
known insert with a rubber layer on both sides of a thin metal
plate, the utilized rubber layers of undisclosed relative
thickness were not destroyed when subjected to high pressure and
temperature in the disc brake system environment. As disclosed,
only the layer facing the rod of the hydraulic piston-cylinder
unit was adversely effected by the formation of depressions
therein. With respect to the known insert with an adhesive layer
between thin steel plates, we are not informed as to the relative
thickness of the adhesive layer.
5Giving the claim language its broadest reasonable inter-
pretation, consistent with the underlying specification, we
understand the recitation of the relative term “thinner,” in
the context of the claim, to broadly denote any damping layer
thickness less than the respective thickness of each metal plate.
6
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