Appeal No. 1997-2099
Application No. 08/233,468
contains an aqueous absorption fluid does not address the effect of lithium hydroxide
and lithium molybdenum on an absorbent composition which does not contain zinc
chloride as discussed above. Thus, the addition of Rockenfeller does not remedy
deficiencies of Ohuchi and Nonaka described above. The rejection of claims 1 to 20 is
reversed.
Claims 1 to 10, 17 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being
unpatentable over the combination of Itoh and either Ohuchi or Aronson. (Examiner’s
Answer, page 6).
According to the Examiner, Itoh discloses an absorbing solution comprising
lithium bromide and lithium hydroxide. The Examiner also states Aronson teaches that
absorbent compositions containing zinc bromide and lithium bromide have greater
solubility limits. The Examiner relies on Ohuchi for reasons stated in the
previous rejections. The Examiner concludes the addition of zinc bromide to absorbent
compositions containing lithium bromide and lithium hydroxide would have been
obvious to obtain the benefits described by Ohuchi or Aronson. (Answer, page 6).
Claim 1 requires the weight ratio of zinc bromide to lithium bromide in the
solution to be from about 1.6 to about 1.9. The Examiner has not cited the portion of
either Ohuchi or Aronson which discloses the appropriate amount of zinc bromide
which should be incorporated into the composition of Itoh. The Examiner has also not
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