Appeal No. 1996-3937
Application No. 08/319,702
In their brief at page 3, appellants emphasize that the
addition of polymeric stabilizer additives of the kind claimed
is usually made by separately adding each of the additives
into the polymeric composition, in contrast to preformulating
the additives into a single additive package in the form of
dust free blend of compacted particles by a pelletizing
process. For example, Matumura discloses the conventional
method in which the additives are “premixed” with the polymer
(see column 3, lines 49 and 50). Alternatively, we note that
Gilles and Van Asbroeck form solutions or suspensions of the
stabilizing compounds (in contrast to compacted particles)
which are then mixed with the polymer. See Gilles at column
5, lines 53-58 and Van Asbroeck at column 4, lines 51-63.
With respect to the
issue raised by the compacted particle claim language, the
examiner emphasizes that Dunski discloses that fine powdery
metallic stearates such as calcium stearate, which produce
hazardous dust, may be combined with a binder to form a pellet
which avoids dust formation. See Dunski at column 1, lines
26-28 and lines 63-68. The examiner further argues that the
application of Dunski’s pelletizing technique “to other
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