Appeal No. 2004-1881
Application No. 09/623,681
used to assemble an outer layer or skin of an aircraft to a
skeletal framework. A further understanding of the invention may
be derived from a reading of claim 1, the sole independent claim on
appeal, which reads as follows (with emphasis added):
1. A method of assembling a structure comprising at least
the steps of:
providing a sub-structure,
positioning shim material on at least part of the sub-
structure, said shim material comprising one of a film and sheet of
preformed shim material,
curing the shim material disposed on the sub-structure,
machining the cured shim material to a desired thickness, and
assembling an outer layer with the sub-structure such that the
machined shim material lies substantially between the outer layer
and the sub-structure.
As evidence of obviousness, the examiner relied upon the
following reference:
Thomas et al. (Thomas) 3,609,116 Sep. 28, 1971
In addition, the examiner also relies on appellants’ admitted
prior art (AAPA) as set forth on pages 1-2 of the specification of
the present application.
Claims 1-6 and 8-12 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as
being unpatentable over AAPA in view of Thomas.
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