Appeal No. 1997-4255
Application 08/443,672
REPRESENTATIVE CLAIM
Claim 7, which is illustrative of the subject matter on appeal, reads as follows:
7. A process for forming a molded product from a sheet of poly-L-lactic acid by
vacuum forming, pressure forming or vacuum-pressure air forming, comprising the steps of
(a) holding a poly-L-lactic acid transparent sheet at holding temperature T for m1 1
minutes, wherein T is in the range of 55-90EC and m satisfies the formula:1 1
log m < -0.083 T + 7.6610 1 1
(b) adhering the sheet to an internal surface of a mold through vacuum suction,
compressed air pressure or vacuum/air pressure at mold temperature T which is in the
2
range of from the glass transition temperature Tg of the poly-L-lactic acid to T , and
1
(c) removing a molded product having a haze of 5%/2 mm or less from the mold
after reducing an internal temperature of the mold to less than said temperature Tg.
THE PRIOR ART
The single prior art reference relied on by the examiner is:
Sinclair et al. (Sinclair) WO 92/04413 March 19, 1992
THE ISSUE
The issue presented for review is whether the examiner erred in rejecting claims 5
and 7 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as unpatentable over Sinclair.
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