Appeal No. 1997-1486
Application 08/430,752
The subject matter on appeal relates to a filtration
membrane in the form of a microperforated sheet transparent to
wavelengths in the visible and infrared spectrums, said sheet
having certain thickness, perforation-density, and mean angle
of inclination values. This appealed subject matter is
adequately illustrated by independent claim 34, which reads as
follows:
34. A filtration membrane in the form of a
microperforated sheet transparent to wavelengths in the
visible and infrared spectrums, the sheet comprising a
material transparent in the non-perforated state having a
thickness e of 0.1 µm to 50 µm, perforations with a mean
distance 1 between circumferences of neighboring perforations
m
of at least 5 µm on each face of the material and a mean angle
" of inclination of the perforations through the material not
greater than 10E with respect to an axis perpendicular to the
sheet of material.
The references relied upon by the examiner as evidence of
obviousness are:
Higashimura et al. 4,778,868 Oct. 18, 1988
(Higashimura)
Ikushima et al. 4,909,896 Mar. 20, 1990
(Ikushima)
Legras et al. (Legras) 4,956,219 Sep. 11, 1990
Grendahl 5,213,721 May 25, 1993
(filed Dec. 21, 1990)
All of the appealed claims stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
2
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