Appeal No. 2003-1560 Page 2
Application No. 09/899,985
BACKGROUND
Appellants' invention relates to an internal combustion
engine exhaust gas purification device including several
catalysts. An understanding of the invention can be derived from
a reading of exemplary claim 1, which is reproduced below.
1. A device for purifying exhaust gas of an
internal combustion comprising:
first and second three-way catalysis for purifying
exhaust gas in an exhaust systme of the internal
engine;
an electrochemical catalyst interposed between the
first and second three-way catalysts, said
electrochemical catalyst including an electron
conducting substance and an ion conducting substance
for promoting an oxidizing reaction and an reducing
reaction by the conduction of ions and electrons to
thereby electrochemically purify the exhaust gas in the
exhaust system.
The prior art references of record relied upon by the
examiner in rejecting the appealed claims are:
Takeshima et al. (Takeshima) 5,388,406 Feb. 14, 1995
Schmelz 5,628,186 May 13, 1997
Nishimura et al. (Nishimura) 6,116,208 Sep. 12, 2000
Murphy et al. (Murphy) 6,122,909 Sep. 26, 2000
Claims 1-3 and 13 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) as
being anticipated by Takeshima. Claims 1-3 and 13 stand rejected
under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Takeshima in
view of Nishimura. Claims 4 and 5 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
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