Appeal No. 1998-2642
Application No. 08/697,339
According to appellants, the invention is directed to a
method of coating particulate material comprising placing
particulate material on an oscillating tray where oscillating
movement causes the material on the support surface to climb
the inclined tread surfaces and advance from the rear of the
tray to the forward end while liquid coating solution is
sprayed onto the material (Brief, pages 2-7). A copy of
illustrative claim 12 is attached as an Appendix to this
decision.
The examiner has relied upon the following references as
evidence of obviousness:
Burgess 3,894,508 July 15,
1975
Staniforth et al. (Staniforth) 5,470,603 Nov. 28,
1995
(section 102(e) date of Oct. 19,
1992)
The claims on appeal stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103
as unpatentable over Staniforth in view of Burgess (Answer,
page 2). We reverse this rejection for reasons which follow.
OPINION
The claims on appeal stand rejected under section 103
over the combination of Staniforth and Burgess (Answer, page
3
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