Ex Parte Skoog et al - Page 7

                Appeal 2007-2158                                                                                   
                Application 10/726,357                                                                             

                of ordinary skill in the art as one of the conventional deposition technique                       
                taught by Nagaraj.                                                                                 
                       We do not understand Appellants' argument that "Nagaraj does not                            
                teach or suggest providing a reflective-coating" (Br. 13, second para.).  The                      
                reference expressly discloses that "the heat shield is formed as a reflective                      
                coating 16 which forms a reflective surface 18 on the insert 10, as shown in                       
                FIG. 1" (col. 3, lines 42-44).  As for Appellants' argument that "the present                      
                invention recites only applying a reflective coating mixture, not both a                           
                reflective coating mixture and thermal barrier coating" (id.), the Examiner                        
                properly notes that the "comprising" language of the appealed claims                               
                embraces the application of both such coatings.                                                    
                       Appellants also maintain that the spraying techniques cited in Kirk-                        
                Othmer "with respect to atomizers appears directed to the internal workings                        
                of the gas turbine, i.e., the injection of fuel inside the engine for combustion,                  
                not applying a coating to the surface of a gas turbine engine" (Br. 14, third                      
                para.).  However, we concur with the Examiner that Kirk-Othmer,                                    
                considered as a whole, "is directed to known and conventional spraying                             
                techniques and discloses, on page 688 in Table 2, air-atomizing spray is a                         
                known method of spraying coatings" (Answer 15, last para.).  We note that                          
                Appellants have apprised us of no reason why one of ordinary skill in the art                      
                would have considered it unobvious to apply a heat-reflective coating by one                       
                of the known, claimed application techniques.                                                      
                       Appellants also state that they do not "know whether palladium,                             
                platinum, and/or gold colloidal metal dispersions as taught by Klabunde will                       
                yield a 'reflective-coating mixture' as claimed" (Br. 16, first para.).                            


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