Appeal No. 1997-0722
Application 08/364,589
discloses binary copolymers having from about 20 to about 85
mole percent vinyl alcohol units and from about 15 to about 80
mole percent vinylamine units as useful flocculants. See
Nowak at column 2, lines 3-7.
In light of the combined teachings of the applied
references, it is apparent that a strong prima facie case of
obviousness has been made out for the subject matter defined
by the appealed claims. Although appellants have argued that
the instant vinylamine polymers produce a more effective
flocculation and provide advantages over the currently used
acrylamide-based polymers of the prior art, appellants have
pointed to no objective evidence in the record to support an
argument that the herein claimed process produces "unexpected
results".
Accordingly, we find ourselves in agreement with the
examiner's ultimate legal conclusion that the herein claimed
subject matter would have been obvious within the meaning of
35 U.S.C. § 103.
The decision of the examiner is affirmed.
No time period for taking any subsequent action in
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