Appeal No. 2006-0132
Application No. 09/946,627
material to resist delamination. The pins may be
inserted when the stiffener and/or the skin material
are in the prepreg stage and then the whole assembly
can be co-cured to form a very strong stiffener
reinforced assembly . . . .
Given the above teachings, notwithstanding the appellants’
arguments to the contrary, we concur with the examiner that one
of ordinary skill in the art would have been led to employ
reinforcing Z-pins and a pi-shape pre-form in the aircraft part
forming method of the type described in Breuer, motivated by a
reasonable of expectation of successfully reinforcing the bonding
of the improved pre-form taught by Abildskov to the composite
layer (skin layer).
In reaching this determination, we note the appellants’
argument that “Breuer does not disclose Z-pins nor woven
performs” and “Avildskov does not suggest any use of Z-pins.”
See the Brief, page 18. In so arguing, we determine that the
appellants fail to take into account the collective teachings
of the applied prior art references. Young, 927 F.2d at 591,
18 USPQ2d at 1091; Keller, 642 F.2d at 425, 208 USPQ at 881.
For the reasons indicated supra and in the Answer, we
determine that the factual findings set forth above and in the
Answer support obviousness of the claimed subject matter within
the meaning of 35 U.S.C. ' 103(a). Accordingly, we affirm the
43
Page: Previous 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007