Appeal No. 2004-0470
Application No. 09/673,771
bodies consist of “resin reinforced by short length high modulus
filaments extending substantially normal to the inner and outer
surfaces of the wall, i.e. generally radially, and preferably
through the entire wall thickness from one of the surfaces to the
other” (Abstract). According to Elliott (see column 8, line 48,
through column 9, line 2), shells having this construction
compare favorably with the conventional filament-wound shell 51
shown in Figure 21a in terms of damage repair and port opening
formation.
In proposing to combine Ball and Elliott, the examiner,
focusing on Elliott’s discussion of the filament-wound shell
shown in Figure 21a (see page 4 in the answer), submits that
“[i]t would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art
to have employed the fiber reinforced plastic skin teachings set
forth in Elliott, et al. in the construction of the device of
Ball, motivated by the strength achieved thereby” (final
rejection, page 2).
Elliott’s passing mention of the filament wound shell shown
in Figure 21a, however, would not have provided the artisan with
any suggestion or motivation to make the inner and outer
skins/shells of Ball’s housing members of fibre reinforced
plastics material having a plurality of overlaid layers of
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