Appeal No. 1998-1226
Application No. 08/420,330
According to appellants, the invention is directed to a
composite comprising an elastomeric matrix containing carbon
fibrils, a method for the preparation of an elastomer
composite, and a method for masterbatching (Brief, pages 3-4).
A copy of illustrative independent claim 53 is reproduced
below:
53. A composite comprising an elastomer matrix into
which greater than 0 and less than 25 parts carbon fibrils per
100 parts elastomer are incorporated to enhance the mechanical
properties of said elastomer, wherein said fibrils have a
diameter less than about 100 nanometers and a length less than
about 10,000 nanometers, and wherein the amount of fibrils in
said composite permits curing of said composite by resistive
or inductive heating.
The examiner has relied upon the following references in
support of the rejections on appeal:
Tomoda et al. (Tomoda) 4,491,536 Jan. 1, 1985
Tennent 4,663,2301 May 5,
1987
Nabeta et al. (Nabeta) 4,704,413 Nov. 3,
1987
Geus et al. (Geus) 4,855,091 Aug. 8, 1989
Friend 5,098,771 Mar. 24, 1992
(filed Jul. 27, 1989)
1We note that appellants have not contested the
availability of Tennent as prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 103.
Therefore we need not reach this issue in our decision.
2
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