Appeal No. 2000-0487 Page 5
Application No. 08/913,380
trimethylolethane (a polyhydric branched alcohol). See column 1,
line 40 through column 2, line 17 and composition B of Example 3
of Georgoudis and page 3 of the examiner’s answer. As further
found and explained by the examiner (answer, page 4), the
equivalent ratios of reactants in composition B of Example 3 of
Georgoudis are embraced by the ranges of equivalent ratios of
reactants as called for in representative claim 11. Indeed, we
further note that Georgoudis expresses a broad range (1.01 to 2)2
and preferred range (1.05 to 1.2)3 of the proportionality of the
hydroxyl groups to isocyanate groups in the reactants used that
overlap appellants’ range. Given that commonality of reactants,
we agree with the examiner that the claimed polyurethane product
glycol groups, an amount within the claimed “at least 70% by
weight range” as implicitly found by the examiner in rejecting
the appealed claims as anticipated by Georgoudis.
2 The broad equivalent ratio range reported in Georgoudis
corresponds to a range of 1 (hydroxyl group):0.5 to 0.99
(isocyanate groups), a range that overlaps the range of 1:0.6 to
0.85 in terms as recited in appellants’ claim 11.
3 The preferred equivalent ratio reported in Georgoudis
corresponds to a range of 1 (hydroxyl group):0.83 to 0.95
(isocyanate groups), a range that not only overlaps the range of
1:0.6 to 0.85 in terms as recited in appellants’ claim 11 but
that includes an endpoint (0.83) wholly within the claimed range.
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007