Appeal No. 2006-0340
Application No. 10/089,315
The examiner relies upon the following references as
evidence of obviousness:
Goldheim 3,097,932 Jul. 16, 1963
Hatfield 4,578,3101 Jul. 19, 1988
Hasui et al. (Hasui) 5,763,015 Jun. 9, 1998
S. Kawahara et al., "The Application of Zn-Al Coatings to Prevent
Corrosion of an Iron Boat," Proceedings of the Int'l. Thermal
Spray Conference & Exposition 877-80 (ASM Int'l. 1992)
(hereinafter referred to as "Zn-A1" article).
Appellant's claimed invention is directed to a method for
protecting submerged marine surfaces, such as the hull of a ship,
buoys, off-shore oil rigs, piers, etc. The method entails using
an electric arc, twin wire thermal spray process for coating the
marine surface with zinc or a zinc based alloy. The twin wire
thermal spray process utilizes two wires, one of which is zinc
while the other is zinc or a zinc alloy. Fouling or bio-fouling
in the marine industry refers to the accumulation of marine
animals and plant life on the submerged surface.
Appealed claims 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9-21 and 23-27 stand rejected
under 35 U.S.C. § 112, first paragraph, description requirement.
Claims 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9-21, 23, 25 and 26 stand rejected under
35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over the Zn-Al article
On page 3, section (8) of the Examiner's Answer, the1
examiner incorrectly lists Patent No. 4,758,310 when referring to
the Hatfield reference.
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