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Mercury Cable Files Request for Reexamination of Composite Technologya?s 7,179,522 Patent

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^{Published in Science and Technology on Wednesday, December 22nd 2010 at 20:21 GMT by Market Wire}  

DANA POINT, Calif.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Mercury Cable and Energy (aMercury Cablea) announces that it has filed a Request for Ex Parte Reexamination of the Composite Technology Corporation (OTCBB:CPTC) U.S. Patent No. 7,179,522 for ACCC bare overhead transmission conductor pursuant to 37 C.F.R. 1.510 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

"The cited art discloses at least as early as April 1987, a full 15 years prior to CTCa™s earliest priority date, that it was well known that multiple fiber types, embedded in a resin matrix, could be used in a composite core for an electrical conductor"

On 12/22/2010a compliant Request for Ex Parte Reexamination was filed challenging the patentability of each of the 20 claims contained in U.S. Patent No. 7,179,522 (hereinafter referred to as the a522 Patent) citing 4 new items of prior art which present new, non-cumulative technological teaching that was not previously considered or discussed on the record during the prosecution of the application that resulted in the a522 patent and specifically not discussed with regard to the subject matter of each of claims 1-20.

aThe cited art discloses at least as early as April 1987, a full 15 years prior to CTCa™s earliest priority date, that it was well known that multiple fiber types, embedded in a resin matrix, could be used in a composite core for an electrical conductor,a said Todd Harris, President of Mercury.

The first reference provided discloses the use of multiple different fibers for a core was specifically identified, as is corrosion resistance, pultrusion methods and the use of different resins and matrix materials.

In particular, it specifically identifies E glass fibers, S-2 glass fibers, carbon fibers, and Kevlar (aramid) fibers as candidate materials which are suitable for replacing steel as the core support member in an overhead power transmission conductor. The reference further discloses that the fibers can be embedded in thermosetting polyester, epoxy and other polymers and contemplates the use of hybrid or multiple fiber type composites, including E glass and another fiber which would include carbon fiber. Lastly, the reference states that pultrusion of continuous fibers is the preferred production technique for such a reinforcing construction.

Thus, as stated by the cited art, at least 15 years prior to the filing of CTCa™s provisional patent application, it was well known in the industry that composite rods or acoresa comprised of a variety of combinations of different strength fibers embedded in resin matrices could replace steel cores in electrical conductors.

Mercury Cable & Energy is a privatelyaheld developer of High Voltage Composite Reinforced Conductors (HVCRC), Smart Conductors for the Smart Grid. The patented HVCRC Smart Conductor is superior to existing conductors in a number of key performance areas including:

• Up to double the current carrying capacity of ACSR
• Substantially reduces highatemperature sag
• Requires fewer structures for new line construction
• Increases capacity of existing rightsaofaway and structures through retrofitting
• Eliminates biametallic corrosion
• Significantly reduces line losses compared to sameadiameter conventional and composite conductors at equal operating temperatures