Appeal No. 1997-1135
Application 08/375,196
filament (col. 2, lines 24-34). The difference in the thermal
histories of the streams produces differences in the shrinkage
potentials of the components which cause the filament to coil
or crimp (col. 4, lines 3-7).
The examiner argues that Shiba and Carey, Jr. disclose
conjugate fibers having identical component compositions
(answer, page 3). This argument is not persuasive because the
examiner has not explained how components having the same
composition can have the different melting points required by
both references.
The examiner argues that it would have been obvious to
one of ordinary skill in the art, in view of Keuchel, to use
similar components in the fibers of Shiba and Carey, Jr. in
order to improve the crimp retention and bulk characteristics
of the fibers (answer, page 4). Keuchel, however, does not
teach that the improved crimp retention and bulk
characteristics are the result of using the same starting
polymer for forming each stream. Instead, the reference
teaches that it is the different thermal histories which
produces this improvement (col. 2, lines 24-33; col. 4, lines
8
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