Appeal No. 2000-1455
Application 08/911,913
way.
Hausch discloses two different embodiments of his
invention, shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The Fig. 3 embodiment is of
more interest in the present case; as described at page 7,
line 15 et seq. of the translation, the liner (mat) of this
embodiment consists of an unfoamed plastic layer 5 having
integral suction cups 4, and a foamed plastic layer 6 with
nubbins 3 on its upper surface. Layers 5 and 6 may be
attached together by gluing or welding (trans. page 8, lines 9
to 11), or layer 6 may be directly molded on layer 5 (id,
lines 12 to 15). Hausch states that various plastics are
suitable (trans. page 7, lines 11 to 14), articularly PVC,
which gives “an especially soft and flexible liner” (trans.
page 8, lines 1 and 2).
§ 102(b) Rejection
The examiner takes the position that Hausch’s above-
discussed disclosure of the prior art anticipates claim 1. He
asserts that Hausch discloses a thermoplastic elastomer, and
that the recitation of the thermoplastic elastomer “having
been back-injected onto the nonwoven fabric” is a process
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