Appeal No. 1997-4087 Page 10
Application No. 08/298,375
walls of the holes (22). Translation, p. 8. When the form is
heated and compressed in a press (24, 30), the thermoplastic
material (16) penetrates into the holes (22). Id. at pp. 8-9.
Myers does not teach forming adhesive receiving openings
in both of two elements and bonding the two elements together,
with the adhesive extending into the openings in both of the
elements. To the contrary, the reference teaches deforming
one of two elements, so that the deformable element flows into
holes formed in the other element. An adhesive is deposited
between the two elements both interiorly and exteriorly of the
holes. The portion of the deformable element that flows into
the holes of the other element serves to increases the surface
area between the two plates. The adhesive intersecures the
plates both interiorly and exteriorly of the holes. In short,
it is the complementary engagement of the elements themselves
that interlocks the elements of Myers rather than the adhesive
that extends between and flows into the openings of the
elements in the claims. Accordingly, we cannot conclude that
the combination of AAPA and Myers would have suggested forming
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