Appeal No. 2006-0132
Application No. 09/946,627
form. Whether the over-wrap plies are adhered prior to
or after the insertion of the pins is well within the
purview of one of ordinary skill in the art …
Optionally, Alston shows it is known in the art to
provide structural pins either through all the layers
of composite (column 4, lines 56-67; figure 2) or to
place some layers of composite, insert the pins, and
then cover with additional layers of composite (column
5, lines 48-60; figure 6).
. . .
As to claims 20 and 21, it is well known and shown
by the references to have the over-wrap plies extend
beyond the height of the legs of the pre-form and cured
to form a connecting surface (see[,] for example,
Sheahen figures, 5,7, 9, and Owens figure 7).
The appellants also do not dispute the examiner’s determination
that:
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in
the art at the time of the invention to provide the
method of bonding as shown by Breuer, Abildskov,
Campbell by adhering over-wrap plies to the perform as
is well known in order to provide a more secure bond
and as further exemplified by Bersuch and/or Sheahen
and/or Owens7 and to provide the over-wrap plies either
before or after insertion of the pins as would have
been well within the purview of one of ordinary skill
in the art or optionally as exemplified by Alston.
The appellants only argue (the Brief, page 21) that:
7 We find that Owens, for example, teaches bonding a pi-shape 3D woven textile
perform to a skin layer and applying over-wrap plies to further strengthen the
bonding and shear strength of the structure in aircraft construction (military
airframe structures). See pages 398-424, especially Figure 2. Similarly, we
find that Sheahen teaches joint subcomponents, including three-dimensional
woven pi-shape pre-forms and skin components, useful in aircraft construction.
See page 6. We find that Sheahen teaches that the woven pi-shape pre-forms
can be bonded or bolted to skins and can be co-cured with the skins before
applying over-wrap plies. See pages 6-7. We find that Sheahen teaches using
53
Page: Previous 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007