Ex Parte Tadros et al - Page 4

                  Appeal No. 2006-3155                                                                                        
                  Application 09/682,749                                                                                      
                  7) MacGregor discloses the use of ultraviolet light absorbers,                                              
                      including triazine (col. 6, l. 29), to improve the polycarbonate light                                  
                      stability.  Col. 6, ll. 21-23                                                                           
                  8) MacGregor also discloses incorporating a hindered amine light                                            
                      stabilizer (HALS) in a cycloaliphatic polyester layer on the                                            
                      polycarbonate surface to increase weatherability of the structure.  Col. 6,                             
                      ll. 34-36.                                                                                              
                  9) Light stabilizers may be incorporated in PCCD, for example, in an                                        
                      amount of .05 to about 10 weight percent.  MacGregor, col. 6, ll. 50-51.                                
                  10) Susi discloses a method of stabilizing polymer film coatings or                                         
                      molded articles against light by incorporating a synergistic mixture of                                 
                      tris-aryl-s-triazine UV absorber and HALS compound into a polymer                                       
                      binder (Abstract) such as polyester.  Col. 4, ll. 48-57.                                                
                                         ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS                                                             
                         Appellants argue that the Examiner failed to make a prima facie                                      
                  showing of obviousness because:  (1) “MacGregor does not disclose an                                        
                  upper layer that consists essentially of a cycloaliphatic polyester and the UV                              
                  stabilizers as recited in the claim” and (2) “there is no disclosure of an                                  
                  intermediate layer within the scope of the invention.”  Br. 4.                                              
                         We disagree.  The Examiner found that MacGregor’s multilayer                                         
                  structure includes a substrate layer and an upper layer which may be a                                      
                  cycloaliphatic polyester.  Answer 3; FF 1.  As pointed out by the Examiner,                                 
                  a decorative intermediate layer may be located between the substrate and                                    
                  surface layer (Answer 3) and may be made of same material as the substrate                                  
                  (Answer 4).  FF 2.  MacGregor explicitly discloses that the substrate may be                                



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