Appeal No. 1997-2378 Application No. 08/233,533 polymerizing alpha-olefins using a Ziegler catalyst system. According to the process disclosed in Bailly, prepolymer particles preserve the shape of the catalyst and polymers obtained therefrom occur in the form of a powder. However, in contrast to the claimed invention, the support and catalyst disclosed in Bailly are in the form of spheroidal particles. Based on the record before us, one having ordinary skill in the art would have expected the polypropylene particles of Bailly to be spheroidal in shape. The examiner recognizes as much. See Answer, p. 5 ("the polypropylene of Bailly is probably spherical in shape"). For this reason, the rejection of claim 27 under 35 U.S.C. § 102(e) is reversed. 9Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 NextLast modified: November 3, 2007