Appeal No. 2004-1032 Page 2
Application No. 09/835,510
better mechanical properties than for example, ternary Ni-Ti-Hf
thin films” (brief, page 4). An understanding of the invention
can be derived from a reading of exemplary claim 1, which is
reproduced below.
1. A nickel titanium hafnium copper thin film
shape memory alloy having a composition (TiHf)50-55
(NiCu)45-50 comprising about 2 atomic percent to about
10 atomic percent copper.
The prior art references of record relied upon by the
examiner in rejecting the appealed claims are:
Melton et al. (Melton) 4,144,057 Mar. 13, 1979
AbuJudom, II et al. (AbuJudom) 5,114,504 May 19, 1992
Johnson et al. (Johnson) 5,325,880 Jul. 05, 1994
Claims 1-6, 12 and 13 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
§ 103(a) as being unpatentable over AbuJudom in view of Melton
and Johnson.
We refer to the brief and to the answer for a complete
exposition of the opposing viewpoints expressed by appellants and
the examiner concerning the issues before us on this appeal.
OPINION
Having carefully considered each of appellants* arguments
set forth in the brief, appellants have not persuaded us of
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