Appeal No. 98-1184
Application 08/593,670
is what the combined teachings of the references would have
suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art. In re
Keller, 642 F.2d 413, 425, 208 USPQ 871, 881 (CCPA 1981). In
the present case, the examiner's conclusion that the combined
teachings of Dischler and Sack would have suggested the
subject matter recited in independent claims 1 and 7 is well
founded.
To begin with, Dischler teaches, or would have suggested,
a web treating method meeting all of the limitations in these
claims except arguably for those requiring that the stream of
gaseous fluid be projected against the web in the direction of
travel of the web.
More particularly, Dischler's teaching that the web be
passed through the treatment zone at very low tension would
have suggested supplying the web to the zone at a tension
falling within the about 1 and about 5 pound force per linear
inch of web width range set forth in claims 1 and 7. In this
sort of situation, an applicant must show that the particular
range is critical, generally by showing that the claimed range
achieves unexpected results relative to the prior art. In re
Woodruff, 919 F.2d 1575, 1578, 16 USPQ2d 1934, 1936 (Fed. Cir.
7
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