Appeal No. 1999-2601
Application 08/862,682
pulling a multiplicity of continuous filaments having
single-filament diameters of 7 to 30 micrometers, which are
arranged in parallel and tensioned, over heated spreader surfaces
including a first spreader surface, the spreader surfaces and the
filament band defining nips,
wherein the filament band upon entering the first spreader
surface has a tension of from 5 N to 50 N per 4000 single
filaments and a speed of at least 3 m/min, said tension and speed
achieved by pulling the filament band,
feeding a thermoplastic polymer melt, having a viscosity of
105 to 2500 Pa.s, measured at a low shearing rate, through a feed
opening in the device, wherein the feed opening for the melt is
not in contact with the continuous filaments,
dragging the melt into the nips with the pulled filament
band, which is brought into contact with the melt prior to the
contact with the first spreader surface, wherein the tension and
the speed of the band press melt through the band, thus
effectively impregnating the filament band, and then
cooling the band to provide a solidifying melt impregnated
filament band with a content of continuous filaments of from 5 to
70% by volume.
THE PRIOR ART
The references relied on by the examiner to support the
final rejection are:
Hilakos 4,728,387 Mar. 1, 1988
Dyksterhouse et al. (Dyksterhouse) 4,894,105 Jan. 16, 1990
Glemet et al. (Glemet) 4,957,422 Sep. 18, 1990
Goldmann et al. (Goldmann) 5,002,712 Mar. 26, 1991
Montsinger 5,176,775 Jan. 5, 1993
Azari 5,268,050 Dec. 7, 1993
Marttila, 0 415 517 A1 Mar. 6, 1991
European Patent Document
Bates, P. J. et al., “Pulling Tension Monitoring in Thermoplastic
Pultrusion Prepregging/Compounding,” Antec ‘91, 49th Annual
Technical Conference In Search of Excellence, Society of Plastics
Engineers & Plastics Engineering, Vol. 4, pp. 2047-2052 (May 5,
1991) (Bates).
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