Appeal No. 2005-2508
Application No. 09/874,314
polymer and a specified copolymer (Brief, page 4). These
specified copolymers are useful as tackifiers for the PSA
(specification, page 11, ll. 10-11). Representative independent
claim 1 is reproduced below:
1. A sheet for protecting a paint film, said sheet
comprising a substrate and formed on one side thereof a rubber-
based pressure-sensitive adhesive layer which comprises a rubbery
polymer and incorporated therein at least one copolymer selected
from the group consisting of styrene/hydrogenated terpene
copolymer resins, and hydrogenated aliphatic/aromatic copolymer
petroleum resins.
The examiner has relied on the following references as
evidence of obviousness:
Dobashi et al. (Dobashi) 5,643,676 Jul. 01, 1997
Cervellati et al. (EP ‘585) 0 273 585 Jul. 06, 1988
(published European Patent Application)
Claims 1 and 2 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as
unpatentable over Dobashi in view of EP ‘585 (Answer, page 2).
Based on the totality of the record, including appellants’
arguments and evidence in the Brief and Reply Brief, as well as
the opposing views of the examiner in the Answer, we affirm the
rejection on appeal essentially for those reasons stated in the
Answer and the reasons set forth below.
OPINION
The examiner finds that Dobashi discloses paint masking
adhesive sheets suitable for covering automobiles, with one side
2
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