Appeal No. 1997-2840
Application No. 08/265,971
The subject matter on appeal relates to a method for
joining a plurality of layers of non-fully cured composite
material which comprises generating a plurality of spaced
apart holes through superimposed layers of a preform by
penetrating a thin pointed tool into and through the preform
using ultrasonic energy applied into the tool and then
fastening together the layers through the holes using fiber
members. A copy of the appealed claim, taken from the1
appellant’s brief, is appended to this decision.
The following references are relied upon by the examiner
as evidence of obviousness:
Lackman et al. 4,331,495 May 25, 1982
(Lackman)
Makabe et al. 4,671,149 Jun. 9, 1987
(Makabe)
Greszczuk 4,696,711 Sep. 29, 1987
Nelson et al. 4,971,641 Nov. 20, 1990
(Nelson)
Ikeda et al. 3-222724 Oct. 1, 1991
(Japanese ‘724)
1It is the implicit and correct position of the appellant
and the examiner that the appealed claim should be interpreted
consistent with the subject specification as defining a method
in which the above noted generating and fastening steps are
separate from and sequential to one another.
2
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