Appeal No. 1997-0538
Application No. 08/262,168
size by at least 50%. See column 4, lines 3-7. Reducing the1
size of the titanium aluminide alloy (making it more compact)
through shaping necessarily requires reduction of its voids or
porosity. In other words, we agree with the examiner that the
shaping step described in Kim is encompassed by the
consolidation step recited in claim 1.
Appellants argue that Kim does not disclose the claimed
o o
heat treating temperature, i.e., about 5 F to about 300 F
below the alpha transus temperature of the alloy. See Brief,
pages 15-16. However, we find that the heat treating
temperature, namely about the alpha-transus temperature
described at column 2 of Kim, embraces the claimed heat
treating temperature. Indeed, we find that Kim teaches at
column 4, lines 11-13, heat treating a shaped titanium
o o o
aluminide alloy between about 5 C (between 5 F and 300 F)
below to 20 C above the alpha-transus temperature of theo
alloy. Accordingly, we determine that the use of the workable
or optimum heat treating temperature condition taught in Kim
1According to page 303 of Webster’s II New Riverside
University Dictionary, attached herewith, the term
“consolidation” means “form into a compact mass” or “become
united”.
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