Appeal 2007-0911
Application 10/058,808
Appellants’ claimed invention is directed to a ceramic fiber product
comprising hafnium carbide derived from a pre-ceramic fiber. Claims 7 and
8 are reproduced below:
7. Hafnium carbide containing ceramic fiber derived from a pre-
ceramic polymer formed by a process comprising the steps of:
a. melting a hafnium containing pre-ceramic polymer;
b. extruding said polymer through an orifice to form fiber;
c. cross-linking said fiber; and
d. heating said cross-linked fiber under controlled atmospheric
conditions at a temperature greater than 600 degrees centigrade to obtain a
hafnium carbide containing ceramic fiber.
8. A ceramic fiber comprising hafnium carbide derived from a pre-
ceramic polymer.
The Examiner relies on the following prior art references as evidence
in rejecting the appealed claims:
Uemura US 5,399,378 Mar. 21, 1995
Hilmas US 6,355,338 B1 Mar. 12, 2002
Claims 7 and 8 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102 as being
anticipated by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being
unpatentable over Hilmas. Claim 8 stands rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b)
as being anticipated by Uemura.
We have thoroughly reviewed each of Appellants’ arguments for
patentability. However, we find no reversible error in the Examiner's
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