Appeal No. 2002-2277
Application No. 09/297,527
1. A longline comprising at least one polyamide monofil
with at least one stopper secured on the polyamide monofil
surface, wherein said stopper consists essentially of a
thermoplastic elastomer having a Shore D hardness of at least 50.
The examiner relies upon the following references as
evidence of obviousness:
Keller 4,428,143 Jan. 31, 1984
Sunline (JP '010) JP 40111010 Jan. 16, 1992
(Japanese Patent Publication)
Appellants' claimed invention is directed to a longline
comprising a polyamide monofil with a stopper secured thereon.
The stopper consists essentially of a thermoplastic elastomer
having a Shore D hardness of at least 50. According to
appellants, "[l]onglines are used to produce angling lines, fish
lines and continuous lines for catching fish" (page 2 of
principal brief, third paragraph). Also, we are told that "[t]he
improvement over the prior art embodied in the instant claims is
that the hollow bodies (also known as stoppers), which are
generally used to limit the mobility of rotors or clips to which
hook lines and hooks are attached, have better adhesion to the
filament than prior art constructions" (page 2 of principal
brief, last paragraph).
Appealed claims 1-8, 10, 11 and 15 stand rejected under
35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Keller in view of
JP '010.
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