Appeal No. 2003-2056 Page 5
Application No. 09/377,442
of permitting the panels to be controlled so as to have a uniform temperature
distribution and increasing the structural strength of the panels,” and comments that the
pipes are configured in a manner that meets the definition of “matrix” (Answer, page 4).
Miyasaka relates to a panel that improves the heat transmission between pipes
that are oriented in different directions. This is accomplished by embedding the
crossing heat pipes in a sandwich core 3 between two facings (facesheets) 1 and 2.
According to Miyasaka, this structure holds the pipes in the proper relationship without
the use of adhesives, which interfere with efficient heat transfer (translation, pages 3
and 4). Esposto primarily is concerned with the construction of the flexible serpentine
heat pipes 20 that are used to connect the heat pipes shown disposed on the
deployable radiators 10 to the heat pipes on stationary transverse panel 14. The
configuration of the heat pipes on the radiators is not described in the reference, but
from Figure 1 each appears to comprise a single pipe arranged in a squared-corner
serpentine fashion between the points of connection with flexible pipes 20. There are
no crossing pipes, and therefore it is our view that the teachings of Miyasaka have no
applicability to Esposto, that is, there are no crossing pipes that need to be placed
between facesheets, and thus there would have been no motivation to one of ordinary
skill in the art to modify Esposto by providing the claimed facesheets. Suggestion to
combine the references in the manner proposed by the examiner being lacking, the
combined teachings of Esposto and Miyasaka fail to establish a prima facie case of
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