Appeal No. 2000-0048
Application 08/909,869
surface at a temperature which is above the softening point
temperature of the powder so as to enable adhesion to the
workpiece surface of the small particles which do not hold a
charge, would have led one of ordinary skill in the art to
maintain the workpiece temperature above the powder softening
temperature throughout the powder coating step so that the
desired adhesion of the small particles to the workpiece
surface is obtained. Therefore, even if one of ordinary skill
in the art would have been led by the applied references to
apply Suzuki’s powder coating material according to the
teaching by Shaneyfelt, such a person would not have been led
by these references to lower the temperature of a slower
cooling sheet below the softening point temperature of the
powder during the powder applying step as required by the
appellants’ claims.
For the above reasons we conclude that the examiner has
not carried the burden of establishing a prima facie case of
obviousness of the appellants’ claimed process. Accordingly,
we reverse the examiner’s rejection.
DECISION
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