Appeal 2007-0687
Application 10/797,422
1 initially with increasing temperatures, but all structures are transformed
2 irreversibly to alpha alumina. Ceramics and Glasses, p. 752.
3 According to the Appellants’ specification, thermally heated
4 aluminum alkoxides are typically converted to the form of finely divided
5 alpha alumina. Specification, p. 13, ll. 31-32.
6 Rigney discloses a method for repairing a protective coating on an
7 article. Rigney, col. 1, ll. 9-11.
8 Articles include gas turbine engine components. Rigney, col. 3, ll. 27-
9 32.
10 One form of the method includes removing a ceramic thermal barrier
11 coating, repairing the underlying metallic environmental resistant coating,
12 and replacing the thermal barrier coating. Rigney, col. 5, l. 15 - col. 6, l. 53.
13 The method disclosed in Rigney also includes removing and replacing
14 the entire thermal barrier coating of a gas turbine engine component.
15 Rigney, col. 7, ll. 5-32.
16 The thermal barrier coatings disclosed in Rigney include zirconia
17 stabilized with yttria. Rigney, col. 3, ll. 63-65.
18 D. PRINCIPLES OF LAW
19 The Examiner bears the initial burden of presenting a prima facie case
20 of unpatentability. In re Oetiker, 977 F.2d 1443, 1445, 24 USPQ2d 1443,
21 1444 (Fed. Cir. 1992). After a prima facie case of unpatentability has been
22 established, the burden of going forward shifts to the applicant. In re
23 Piasecki, 745 F.2d 1468, 1472, 223 USPQ 785, 788 (Fed. Cir, 1984).
24 A claimed invention is not patentable if the subject matter of the
25 claimed invention would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill
7
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