Appeal No. 1996-0837
Application 08/603,014
least one copolymer of ethylene and a second ethylenically unsaturated monomer having a
melt index of at least about 20 grams per ten minutes as determined by ASTM D1238,
condition 190/2.16, or (iii) at least one thermoplastic acrylic homopolymer or copolymer
having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of greater than 0EC but less than 110EC, or (iv)
a mixture of (i), (ii), and (ii) [sic, iii];
(B) at least one thermoplastic polymeric material different than (A) having a melting
point in the range of about 0EC to about 130EC and being dispersible with (A) wherein the
polymer composition of (A) and (B) is normally solid at room temperature but is a viscous
liquid at about 200EF to about 300EF having a viscosity in the range of about 5,000 cps to
about 100,000 cps; and
(C) an adhesion promoter, said adhesion promoter comprising an epoxy resin.
The references relied upon by the examiner are:
Cleveland et al. (Cleveland) 4,454,379 June 12, 1984
Couturier et al. (Couturier) 4,870,128 Sep. 26, 1989
Claims 1, 57 and 88 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable
over Couturier in view of Cleveland.
We reverse.
As indicated by claim 1 above, the appellants’ invention is directed to thermoplastic
compositions of a “specific formulation of very specific components having specific
physical properties.” Specification, p. 8. The claimed compositions are said to be useful
for providing a decorative coating on substrates such as “glass, ceramic, metal,
fiberboard, textile or plastic (e.g., glass [sic] jars or bottles) preferably using hot melt
screen printing.” Id., p. 6.
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007