Appeal No. 1999-1258
Application No. 08/854,332
references (Answer, pages 4 and 6). Accordingly, we will limit
our discussion to these references.2
The examiner finds that Bennett discloses a “conventional
system” for protecting concrete with reinforcing bars comprising
an anode strip of expanded mesh made from titanium metal with an
electrocatalytically active coating (Answer, page 3). The
examiner finds that the claimed subject matter differs from
Bennett by requiring an anode strip having a plurality of louvers
(id.). Accordingly, the examiner applies Boulton for the
disclosure of “an anode of Ti with an electrocatalytically active
coating” where the anode is in the form of a strip with louvers
(id.). The examiner also applies Warne for the disclosure of a
cathodic protection anode “[having] the general configuration of
louvers.” Answer, page 4. From these findings, the examiner
concludes that it would have been obvious “for Bennett to adopt
the louver anode strip of Boulton as its anode, because such an
anode can be easily manufactured as discussed at col. 2, line 47
of Boulton.” Id. The examiner also concludes that “louvers have
wider openings than the apertures of a mesh to facilitate the
2The tertiary references to Taki and Metals Handbook were
merely applied by the examiner to show limitations of various
dependent claims (see the Answer, pages 4 and 5). Therefore
these references do not remedy the deficiencies discussed infra.
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