Appeal No. 96-2675
Application No. 08/299,760
content subsequent to melt extrusion. It is how polyvinyl
alcohol is treated after melt extrusion of the previously
prepared polymer. We find that Takigawa is directed to any
polyvinyl alcohol polymer having a polymerization degree of
700 to 1500 and a hydrolysis degree of at least 97%. We
further find no disclosure or suggestion in Takigawa for the
addition of moisture subsequent to melt extrusion.
The second essential limitation at issue is the presence
of “0.1 to 5.0% (wt.) of an anti-blocking agent.” The
examiner relies upon the disclosure in Naude-Filonniere for
its disclosure of an anti-blocking agent. We have carefully
reviewed the Naude-Filonniere reference in light of the
examiner’s arguments presented in the Answer (pages 4-5). On
the record before us, we conclude that one of ordinary skill
in the art would not go to Naude-Filonniere for the addition
of an anti-blocking agent to the composition of Takigawa. We
find that Naude-Filonniere is directed to a polyvinyl alcohol
with delayed dissolution. We find that Naude-Filonniere
buries its polyvinyl alcohol films together with its content
after use as opposed to the requirement of the claimed subject
matter of dissolving the polyvinyl alcohol polymer in an
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