Appeal 2007-0687 Application 10/797,422 1 Giving the phrase “an assembled state” its broadest reasonable 2 interpretation, the Examiner found that the turbine components described in 3 Spence and Hasz would necessarily be “assembled” when treated. Answer 4 15. 5 The Appellants argue that the Examiner does not specifically point out 6 where Spence or Hasz, either separately or in combination, teach or suggest 7 that the turbine component is in an assembled state when it is treated. Br. 8 11. 9 The Appellants’ specification does not define “turbine component,” 10 “component,” or “turbine component in an assembled state.” Turning to The 11 American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 273 (William 12 Morris ed., New College ed. 1976) (copy attached), “component” is defined 13 as “A simple part, or a relatively complex entity regarded as a part, of a 14 system; element; constituent.” 15 Spence describes coating a “turbine element” with the disclosed 16 alumina/silica sol. Spence, col. 10, ll. 18-37. We find that the “turbine 17 element” described in Spence is a “turbine component” within the meaning 18 of claim 32. The Appellants have failed to explain how the phrase “turbine 19 component in an assembled state” distinguishes the claimed turbine 20 component from the turbine element described in Spence. Moreover, there 21 is no reason to believe that the turbine element in Spence is not in an 22 “assembled state.” 23 As a final note, we find that one of ordinary skill in the art would have 24 recognized the advantages of treating a turbine component “in an assembled 14Page: Previous 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013