Appeal No. 2003-1970 Page 5
Application No. 09/586,526
establish the obviousness of substituting gold for nickel in the ink jet recording head coating
based on the evidence of record. Nor is the fact that Aylward indicates that it is possible to
electroplate either gold or nickel together with Teflon enough. The fact that those of ordinary
skill in the art understood that a gold-Teflon coating could be produced does not establish that
those of ordinary skill would have had a reason to produce the coating on the inkjet recording
head of Naoto.
We conclude that the Examiner has failed to establish a prima facie case of obviousness
over Naoto in view of Aylward. Neither Bestel nor Matson cures the defects of the rejection over
Naoto in view of Aylward. We conclude that the Examiner has not established a prima facie
case of obviousness with respect to the subject matter of claims 15-26, 32, and 33.
CONCLUSION
To summarize, the decision of the Examiner to reject claims 15-26, 32, and 33 under
35 U.S.C. § 103(a) is reversed.
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