Appeal No. 1998-1720
Application No. 08/384,239
surface active agents, or by an increase in the pH value” (page 1). The present invention is
directed to a powdered or granulated preparation containing a tannin-protease complex
and up to 99.9 percent by weight of a water soluble salt, whereby the active enzyme is
released from the complex when the preparation is dissolved in water, without the need for
organic solvents or surfactants (page 3).
DISCUSSION
Rejection I
Claims 2 and 9 on appeal are directed to a surface-active agent-free powdered or
granulated enzyme preparation, consisting of a tannin-protease complex and 80 to 99.9
percent by weight of at least one salt, wherein the protease remains in inactive form until
released from the complex “by the salt” when the powdered or granulated preparation is
dissolved in water.
According to the examiner, Thomas, Geyer and Töpfer “all teach tannin-protease
complexes . . . for several different utilities,” while Green, Borello and Tang teach the
addition of diluent salts . . . to enzyme preparations . . . as extenders in hydrolytic
processes.” “Consequently, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art . .
. to add a diluent salt to the enzyme preparations of [Thomas, Geyer and Töpfer] in view of
the teaching that such an addition is and was old and well known in the art and beneficial
for the application of hydrolases.” Examiner’s Answer, fourth page.2
2The pagination of the Examiner’s Answer is incorrect; the first, second and third
(continued...)
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