Appeal No. 1999-0441
Application No. 08/676,454
maintained in position by bonds at ends 6 and gluing points 8
(see Figure 4). Pigneul explains that “[t]he two large flaps
[4] at each side of the center region remain free in order to
be folded and glued underneath the pad or the supporting panty
[10] during use, but one or several gluing or sealing points
[8] arranged on each side of the pad will constitute a stop
and thus ensure protection on the side of the cushion when the
flaps are folded” (translation, paragraph bridging pages 1 and
2). Thus, it reasonably appears that, like appellant, an
objective of Pigneul is to provide pockets that open to the
main body portion of the product where the flaps 4 overlie the
absorbent core to prevent side leakage. In this regard, see
also page 3, lines 14-16, of the translation.
Independent claim 1 calls for, in part, the cover layer 5
and barrier layer 10 to be folded over and bonded to the cover
layer “along each respective longitudinal edge of said main
body with the exception of at least a portion of a line of
intersection between each tab [3] and said main body [2]
remains unbonded to form a pocket adjacent to each tab which
is capable of collecting body exudate that may flow in a
lateral direction . . . .” Independent claims 10 and 18
5
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