Appeal No. 1997-4118
Application No. 08/381,814
carbonyl groups in its polymer chain. From these teachings
the examiner concludes that it would have been obvious to one
of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was
made to
substitute for the intermediate layer and
adhesives of Brunnhofer a layer of
polyvinylidene fluoride adhered to the
polyamides by a polymer having carbonyl groups
on its polymeric chain as suggested by Nawrot in
order to provide a polyamide based hose having a
barrier layer that exhibits characteristics of
increased resistance to permeability and an
adhesive to ensure a strong bond between the
fluoropolymer and polyamides, while preserving
the mechanical effects of the polyamide.
After our review of the combined teachings of Brunnhofer
and Nawrot, we must agree with appellants (brief, pages 9-15,
and reply brief, pages 3-11) that, at best, Nawrot’s teachings
would have suggested replacing the innermost polyamide layer
(4) in the fuel line hose of Brunnhofer with a layer of
polyvinylidene fluoride and the bonding layer (3) in
Brunnhofer with an adhesive bonding agent layer of polymers or
copolymers that contain carbonyl groups in their polymer
chains. Like appellants, we are of the view that Nawrot
"teaches away" from a fuel line hose like that claimed by
appellants and which would result from the combination of
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