Appeal No. 97-3007 Page 8
Application No. 08/161650
Kittaka discloses a process for forming a pipe in which a
preform is heated and placed in a mold, and a bladder is
placed into the preform and inflated. After inflation, resin
is injected and cured. The bag is then deflated and removed.
As detailed above, Randolph, Allen’563, and Kittaka each
disclose the use of an inflatable bladder in a method that
includes the steps of placing material to be compressed or
compacted within an outer mold, placing an uninflated bladder
within the mold and inflating the bladder so that the material
to be compacted is pressed against the inside of the mold.
These references do not disclose teach or suggest this use of
inflatable bladders as mandrels around which material is
wrapped. As such, we find no suggestion in Randolph,
Allen’563 or Kittaka to modify the method disclosed in Medler
in the manner proposed by the examiner. As such we will not
sustain the examiner’s rejections of claim 16 as unpatentable
over Medler in view of Randolph, or Allen’563 or Kittaka.
In regard to the rejection of claim 16 under 35 U.S.C.
§ 103 as being unpatentable over Medler in view of Hale, we
note that Hale discloses the use of an inflatable bladder to
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