Ex Parte Konrad et al - Page 5

               Appeal 2006-1994                                                                             
               Application 10/253,705                                                                       
                      Appellants further argue that the Examiner’s application of the prior                 
               art to the claims is based on impermissible hindsight reconstruction (Br. 6).                
                      The Examiner responds that “100% of the primary reference[’s] [i.e.,                  
               Sedlmeyr’s] electromagnetic radiation” falls within the claimed wavelength                   
               range, such that the claimed limitations of “at least 25%” and “more than                    
               50%” are disclosed by Sedlmeyr (Answer 5-6).  The Examiner asserts that                      
               Appellants do not discuss the allegedly significant differences between the                  
               claimed “wet or moist coatings” and Sedlmeyr’s coatings (Answer 6).                          
               Moreover, the Examiner finds that Sedlmeyr’s coatings are “synonymous                        
               with the argued wet or moist coatings used on lamp substrates” (Answer 6).                   
               The Examiner further indicates that the “intended use” recited in the claimed                
               method is fully suggested by Sedlmeyr (Answer 6).  Regarding Appellants’                     
               allegation of hindsight, the Examiner states that the rejections are fully                   
               discussed such that no impermissible hindsight was used in his analysis                      
               (Answer 6-7).                                                                                
                      We agree with the Examiner’s ultimate conclusion that the claims are                  
               unpatentable over Sedlmeyr.                                                                  
                      Sedlmeyr discloses applying a thermoreactive powder to a substrate                    
               and irradiating the powder with near-infrared (NIR) radiation (Sedlmeyr,                     
               col. 2, ll. 22-55).  Sedlmeyr further discloses that “preferably” NIR is used to             
               irradiate the coated substrate and that the wavelength range for NIR is                      
               between the visible spectrum (0.7 µm at the high end of the visible                          
               spectrum) and 1.2 µm (Sedlmeyr, col. 2, ll. 40-47).                                          
                      Moreover, Sedlmeyr discloses that an electrically conductive liquid is                
               used to pre-treat a substrate prior to applying the coating material (Sedlmeyr,              
               col. 4, ll. 26-31).   For example, Sedlmeyr discloses spraying a substrate                   

                                                     5                                                      


Page:  Previous  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  Next 

Last modified: November 3, 2007