Appeal No. 1998-0531
Application 08/464,489
prosecution subsequent to the final rejection, the examiner
has withdrawn the final rejection of claims 11, 12 and 25-27
and allowed said claims, leaving for our consideration only
the final rejection of claim 28. Claim 24, the only other
claim pending in the application, has previously been
allowed.2
Appellants’ invention pertains to a heating apparatus for
applying heat to a repair site on a composite structure for
curing the repair. Claim 28 defines the appealed subject
matter as follows:
28. A heating apparatus for heating a repair site on a
composite structure to a substantially uniform temperature of
at least about 300EF, comprising:3
(a) a pliable, sealed bladder having a surface in
contact with the repair site and an outer surface;
2 Pursuant to appellants’ request for a copy of claim 27,
we enclose as an attachment to this opinion a copy of page 4
of appellants’ amendment submitted March 8, 1996 (Paper No.
6), wherein claim 27 was added as a new claim.
3 In that claim 28 calls for, inter alia, a sealed bladder
having a surface in contact with the repair site and an outer
surface, a electrical heater within the bladder, and
insulation on the outer surface of the bladder, it does not
appear to read on any of the embodiments currently illustrated
in appellants’ drawings. If true, it would be appropriate to
provide a drawing figure illustrating the embodiment of claim
28 in order to comply with 37 CFR § 1.83(a).
2
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