Appeal No. 96-3830
Application 08/173,065
along a seam. The rubber coating affords sufficient additional
resistance to abrasion or cutting to multiply the life of the
pocket many times (page 1, lines 28 through 37). The Benstock
document (Figures 1A and 2) relates to a liquid proof seam that
includes a melt adhesive polymer film 16. The invention is
particularly addressed to fabric seams for raincoats, jackets,
and similar outerwear, tents, outdoor equipment, and tarpaulins
(column 1, lines 16 through 19). The Isoe patent (Figures 3 and
4) teaches a pocket with a resin-coated bottom 23 to provide
enhanced abrasion resistance and reduce seam slippage along the
stitching 31 on the pocket's bottom.
When we collectively consider the above teachings, setting
aside what appellant has informed us of in the present appli-
cation, it is apparent that the reference teachings themselves
would not have been suggestive of the now claimed repair patch.
From our perspective, the teachings of Potter and Isoe would have
been suggestive of a rubber or resin coating for the bottom of
the repair patch of Buck to obtain the benefits thereof set forth
in the former patents. However, the resulting modified patch
would not address the claimed repair patch which requires at
least one interiorly-turned seam reinforced by heat sensitive
glue. In our opinion, only impermissible hindsight and reliance
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