Appeal No. 1997-0110
Application 08/236,258
from consideration by the examiner as being directed toward a
nonelected invention.
THE INVENTION
Appellant’s claimed invention is directed toward a
flexible composite comprising a resilient polyurethane matrix
formed in situ about an organic fibrous component. The
fibrous component and the matrix are essentially chemically
unbonded to each other such that the fibrous component remains
able to move within the matrix. Claim 17 is illustrative and
reads as follows:
17. A flexible composite comprising a [sic, an] organic
fibrous component dispersed within a flexible or resilient
polyurethane matrix which is formed in situ about the fibrous
component at a temperature below the melting point of the
fibrous component by positioning the urethane-forming
components about the fibrous component and allowing the
urethane-forming reaction to occur, the fibrous component and
urethane-forming components being such that the matrix and
fibrous component are essentially chemically unbonded to each
other whereby the composite retains essentially the
flexibility of the polymeric matrix and the fibers of the
fibrous component remain able to move within the matrix, the
flexibility of the composite being such that the composite may
be bent or distorted until some or all its fibers are snubbed
by the bent or distorted matrix such that their mobility at
their interfaces with the matrix is reduced, the energy stored
in the bent or distorted composite helping the composite to
recover to its original unbent or undistorted form when the
distorting force is released.
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007