Appeal No. 1998-1226
Application No. 08/420,330
grouping of claims and decide this rejection on the basis of
this claim and, to the extent they are separately argued,
claims 56 and 57.
The composite product recited in claim 53 on appeal
requires an elastomer matrix into which greater than zero and
less than 25 parts of carbon fibril per 100 parts elastomer
are incorporated, wherein the fibrils have a diameter less
than about 100 nanometers (nm) and a length less than about
10,000 nm, with the composite having such an amount of fibrils
that curing by resistive or inductive heating is permitted.
As correctly construed by the examiner, this claim does not
require curing or a cured product but only a product that
permissibly can be cured (see the Answer, page 3).
The examiner finds that Tennent teaches tubular carbon
fibrils of 3.5 to 70 nm in diameter and a length of about 2500
nm that are useful in an electrically conductive composite
with carbon and an elastomer (Answer, page 3). The examiner
recognizes that Tennent does not disclose the amount of
fibrils in the composite (id.). However, Tennent teaches that
the fibrils are incorporated into the matrix to reinforce the
composite and also to enhance the electrical or thermal
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