Appeal 2006-0249
Application 10/315,401
the Examiner, describes a fuel cell structure such that the membrane
electrode assembly has lateral surfaces set back with respect to lateral
surfaces of cell separator plates to leave a sealing gap (Answer 3-4; see also
Inoue, ¶¶ 12, 37, and 45). According to Inoue, fuel gas, oxidizing gas, and
coolant are flowed in individual gas passages separated from each other by a
seal (Inoue ¶ 6, ll. 1-4). Various portions of the apparatus are sealed. “For
example, a seal is provided around a communicating opening of the gas
passages penetrating the fuel cell stack, around the membrane electrode
assembly, around a coolant passage provided on the outer surface of the
separator, and around the circumference of the outer surface of the
separator.” (Inoue, ¶ 6, ll. 4-10.) The invention of Inoue is directed to seals
used between the pair of separators and the membrane (Inoue, ¶ 12, ll. 1-7).
All of the secondary references describe sealing the outer circumference of a
fuel cell. It follows from the evidence that it would have been obvious to
one of ordinary skill in the art to have sealed the outer circumference of the
fuel cell of Inoue as taught in the secondary references. Wozniczka, in
particular, provides an express suggestion for providing such an additional
seal. Wozniczka explains that “[i]f one or more individual cell seals fails,
the encapsulating seal 80 maintains the integrity of the barrier protecting the
cells and prevents leaks of reactant or coolant fluids.” (Wozniczka, p. 13, l.
31 to p. 14, l. 2.) Wozniczka also discloses that the encapsulating seal
provides electrical and/or thermal insulation, protects the components of the
fuel cell from the external environment, and may insulate the outside
environment from the cell stack (Wozniczka, p. 14, ll. 2-11). Prima facie,
the sealing arrangement of claim 1 would have been obvious to one of
ordinary skill in the art based on the evidence relied upon by the Examiner.
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