Appeal No. 1996-0858 Page 5
Application No. 08/117,648
obviousness of the claimed subject matter. Accordingly, we
will not sustain the examiner's rejections.
The Tai reference as applied by the examiner is directed
to a laundering detergent combining cleaning and softening
performance properties during the use thereof in laundering
textiles. The Spendel reference as applied by the examiner is
directed to a laundering process and apparatus utilizing small
quantities of water compared to conventional washing
techniques.
The subject matter of claims 1-4, 6-10, and 12-16 is
drawn to a process for softening cotton toweling during its
manufacture by (a) applying a surfactant free aqueous
cellulase solution of a specified concentration and amount
onto the surfaces of the toweling prior to the application of
a finish to the toweling; (b) incubating the toweling for a
specified period of time under specified temperature
conditions; and (c) treating the toweling to remove or
inactivate the enzyme.
The fundamental flaw in the examiner's rejection of the
process claims under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable
over the combined teachings of Tai and Spendel is that the
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