Appeal No. 95-5066
Serial No. 07/931,330
greater surface area, thereby increasing fuel cell efficiency. The cell core is heated in a two-step cycle
wherein a temperature of approximately 1000E F extracts the binder and the second step heating to
approximately 1200-1600E F sinters the core to fuse the remaining ceramic particles to form a rigid fuel
cell core. (column 5, lines 4-20; column 9, line 37 - column 10, line 57)
The examiner has failed to make the required factual inquiries mandated by Graham v. John
Deere, Co. 383 U.S. 1 (1966); and, has failed to explain why or how one having ordinary skill in the
art would have combined the teachings of Kaun and Kotchick. Since, on this record, the examiner has
not established a prima facie case of obviousness, we reverse the rejection.
b. Kaun in view of Huebner
Kaun has been described above.
Huebner relates to structural panels, e.g., for use in aircraft components, which incorporate a
"honeycomb core" (column 1, lines 7-12). Specifically, Huebner fabricates a
corrosion-resistant, impact-resistant, and heat-resistant core by welding or otherwise melting
thermoplastic sheets together at spaced locations, thus eliminating the use of thermosetting adhesives,
solvents and other chemical bonding agents. In one embodiment, thermoplastic sheets are welded and
then expanded to form a honeycomb core. In another embodiment, the sheets are
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