Appeal 2007-0159
Application 10/850,019
This is an appeal from the Examiner’s final rejection of claims 1-16,
18, and 26-31. We have jurisdiction over the appeal pursuant to 35 U.S.C.
§ 6(b).
Appellants’ invention relates to a process of polymerizing acrylate
monomers at elevated temperatures in the absence of free radical initiator
and styrene monomers. Independent Claim 1 is reproduced below:
1. A batch or semi-batch process of polymerization comprising:
heating in a reactor a reaction mixture comprising one or more
thermally polymerizable acrylate monomers to a polymerization temperature
ranging from 120°C to 500°C; and
polymerizing said reaction mixture into a polymer.
The Examiner relies on the following prior art references to show
unpatentability:
Brand US 4,546,160 Oct. 8, 1985
Campbell (‘590) US 6,346,590 B1 Feb. 12, 2002
Chiefari US 6,376,626 B1 Apr. 23, 2002
Campbell (‘026) US 6,388,026 B1 May 14, 2002
Campbell (‘144) US 6,552,144 B1 Apr. 22, 2003
Villalobos US 6,605,681 B1 Aug. 12, 2003
Paquet, Jr. US 2004/0010091 A1 Jan. 15, 2004
The Examiner made the following rejections:
1. Claims 1-16, 18, and 26-31 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as
unpatentable over Campbell ‘026.
2. Claims 1-16, and 26-31 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as unpatentable
over Villalobos or Campbell ‘144 or Campbell ‘590.
2
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