Appeal No. 2006-0551 Παγε 5
Application No. 10/182,904
foil is applied. This is an important aspect of the invention
since the outer layers of foil protect the underlying organic
composite of the hybrid laminates from the environment and
attack by fluids.
Alternative methods of fabrication, some discussed in
more detail below, are also useful. For example, all layers of
the hybrid laminate may be stacked in an autoclave or press,
without prefusion of layers, and may then be fused under
applied heat and pressure into a unitary laminate.
In rejecting appellants' claim 1 as being anticipated by Westre, the examiner
points to the hybrid laminate illustrated in Westre's Figure 5 and discussed in columns
15 and 16. As explained on page 3 of the answer, the examiner finds that Westre
discloses laying-up a plurality of layers (bottom foil layer 10, first composite layer 15,
which is made up of three plies of composite, and second foil layer 10) to form part of a
laminated member, forming a composite reinforcement member (the second composite
layer 15, which is made up of three plies of composite), positioning the composite
reinforcement member on a layer (the second foil layer 10) of the laminated member
and laying-up at least one further layer (third foil layer 104) so as to complete the laying
4 The third composite layer 15 and top foil layer 10 could also be considered to be part of the "at
least one further layer" in appellants' claim 1.
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