Appeal No. 1996-3931
Application No. 08/198,336
derived from a vinyl ester monomer (e.g., vinyl acetate) and
repeating units derived from an alkyl(meth) acrylate monomer
(e.g., butyl acrylate). Significantly, the polymer has a
glass transition temperature (T ) of -15°C to about +15°C.
g
Additionally, the solid component of the claimed composition
contains a plasticizer compound. When compared to aqueous
adhesive compositions containing polymers having T s below -
g
15°C, the claimed compositions show large increases in
viscosity. See the specification at page 6, line 28 to page
7, line 3.
As evidence of obviousness of the claimed aqueous
adhesive composition, the examiner relies on Weist or its
Canadian equivalent referred to as Canadian ‘895, which
references have identical disclosures. Weist discloses an
aqueous pressure-sensitive adhesive composition containing, in
finely divided form, copolymers comprised of vinyl acetate
monomeric units and acrylic acid ester monomeric units, such
as butyl acrylate. However, Weist’s copolymers have a T in
g
the range of -20 to
-60°C. See the abstract and column 1, lines 61-64 of Weist.
In contrast, as emphasized above, the T range of the claimed
g
3
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