Appeal No. 1997-1538
Application 08/184,172
2. Claims 14 and 23 have been rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as
unpatentable over a publication authored by Gates et al.3
We reverse. We also enter a new ground of rejection of claim 13.
The claimed subject matter
The invention relates generally to methods for lubricating silicon nitride. The lubricant includes
an alcohol compound. The preferred alcohols are said to be aromatic alcohols. We select claim 13 as
representative for rejection 1 and claim 14 as representative for rejection 2. 37 CFR § 1.197(c)(7).
Claim 13 does not specify any particular alcohol requiring only that the alcohol have “lubricating
activity” and is not “a glycol or 2,6-ditertiarybutylcresol.” Claim 14 specifies four generic groups of
aromatic alcohols. Claims 13 and 14 as they appear in the appendix to applicants’ brief are
reproduced below:
13. A method for lubricating a silicon nitride ceramic surface which
comprises: applying to the silicon nitride ceramic surface a
composition comprising an alcohol compound, in an amount sufficient
to provide a lubricating effect, wherein said alcohol has lubricating
activity and is other than a glycol or 2,6-ditertiarybutylcresol.
14. A method for lubricating a silicon nitride ceramic surface which
comprises: applying to the silicon nitride ceramic surface a composition
comprising an alcohol compound, in an amount sufficient to provide a
lubricating effect,
wherein said alcohol compound is selected from the group
consisting of:
33“Effect of Selected Chemical Compounds on the Lubrication of Silicon Nitride,” Vol. 34, Tribology
Transactions, p. 417-425 (1991).
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