Appeal No. 96-3225
Application 08/229,322
with a reflective composition. When transferred to a
substrate, this results in a color pattern that is visible in
normal conditions, such as daylight, and a reflective color
pattern visible when light is trained on the substrate, such
as by the headlights of a vehicle.
At this juncture, it should be noted that based on our
understanding of the appellant’s invention from the
specification, we interpret the phrase “imagewise pattern” to
mean a graphic representation or design which does not
completely cover the base sheet. Thus, we do not agree with
the examiner’s position that an “imagewise pattern” can be a
coating over the entire sheet.
This claim stands rejected as being unpatentable over the
Danish reference taken in view of Palmquist. The Danish
reference discloses a transfer sheet material for the same use
as that of the appellant’s invention. As we understand the
method disclosed in the Danish reference, the entire sheet of
partially embedded microspheres is coated with a reflective
composition. If a pattern is desired in the reflective
composition when transferred to the substrate, it is produced
by applying an imagewise pattern of a release agent over the
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