Appeal No. 1997-0311
Application No. 08/340,017
for "a compound containing basic nitrogen." Likewise, it is
conventional to add thixotropic agents to aqueous dispersions
and Gamon discloses appellants' polyvinyl alcohol as one of
only two thixotropic agents that may be employed.
We also agree with the examiner that the collective
teachings of Braun and Sittenthaler establish the prima facie
obviousness of appealed claims 1-5 and 7-11. Our reasoning is
essentially the same as that set forth above with respect to
the § 103 rejection over Gamon. Appellants do not dispute the
examiner's factual finding that Braun discloses an aqueous
dispersion of organopolysiloxanes comprising all the presently
claimed components with the exception of polyvinyl alcohol.
However, as explained by the examiner, Braun teaches that the
aqueous dispersions may contain conventional thixotropic
agents and dispersing agents, and Sittenthaler discloses the
use of polyvinyl alcohol as a dispersing agent in an aqueous
dispersion of organopolysiloxanes. Hence, we are convinced
that one of ordinary skill in the art would have found it
obvious to incorporate polyvinyl alcohol in the aqueous
dispersions of Braun as a dispersing agent. Furthermore, as
discussed above, Gamon evidences that it was known in the art
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