Appeal No. 1996-0584
Application No. 07/658,878
OPINION
To establish a prima facie case of obviousness, there must be some suggestion or motivation to
modify the reference or combine reference teachings and a reasonable expectation of success.
Furthermore, the prior art must teach or suggest all the claim limitations. In re Vaeck, 947 F.2d 488,
493, 20 USPQ2d 1438, 1442 (Fed. Cir. 1991).
Vanzo discloses a method of suspension polymerization of a monomeric composition to
produce uniformly sized particles having a narrow size distribution (col. 1, lines 7-10; col. 2, lines 1-4),
using a high speed and high shear mixer (col. 2, lines 63-67), preferably a rotor stator type mixer in
which one element is stationary and the other rotates in close tolerance therewith while the liquid is
drawn through apertures in the stator (col. 6, lines 6-11). Generally, the process comprises (a)
dispersing a mixture of monomer, water and stabilization agent in a first chamber to a particle size range
of about 15 microns and an average particle size less than about 50 microns and, after sizing, (b)
transferring the initial suspension to a polymerization reactor to form particles (col. 2, lines 40-49).
According to the examiner,
Holding and supplying the continuous and disperse phases to a disperser is found in col.
7, Example 1 at lines 3-10, Example 2 at lines 37-43. The disperser having a uniform
thickness between a stationary and rotating part (stator-rotor combination) is presented
in col. 6 lines 3-15. [Answer, page 3, lines 10-14.]
- 5 -
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007