Appeal No. 96-1879
Application 08/006,194
to be in harmony with the thickness of the
microporous sheet to be combined. Generally,
the size or width of the pattern is not more
than approx. 10 times (preferably not more
than approx. 4 times) as much as the thick-
ness of the microporous sheet. Thus, the
size and width of the pattern is preferably
as small and thin as possible, as far as the
desired tight fixation of the microporous
sheets is attained. The appropriate space
between the dots or lines can be determined
experimentally so that no capillary action
is produced between the combined two micro-
porous sheets [emphasis added].
It is apparent from the above quoted passage from Hiratsuka that
the "up to ten times the thickness of the microporous sheets" the
examiner has referred to is not the thickness of the adhesive but
it is the area on the surface of the microporous layer occupied
by the adhesive.
The clear disclosure of Hiratsuka throughout, and as
particularly apparent from the passage quoted above, is that
"tight fixation of the microporous sheets" be attained "so that
no capillary action is produced between the combined two
microporous sheets" (emphasis added). Consequently, it is our
opinion that Hiratsuka teaches away from the proposed combination
with the teaching of Blatt of the formation of a capillary gap
between a test layer and a base layer.
8
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007