Appeal No. 1998-3281
Application 08/650,500
carbon atoms bonded in a linear chain and a hydrophilic group
containing at least about 9 atoms bonded in a linear chain and
embraces DAPRAL GE 202 as the useful polymer (b). It is against
this background that we shall review the prior art applied by the
examiner against the appealed claims under 35 U.S.C. § 103.
We agree with the examiner that Beach discloses a polymer
useful in an ink composition useful for an ink jet printing
process. As correctly observed by the examiner, the ink
composition comprises water, a pigment and a graft copolymer
comprising both a hydrophilic segment and a hydrophobic
segment. According to Beach, while the prior art had used
dispersants to maintain pigments in dispersion in prior art ink
jet inks, it is their dispersants which enable the dispersions to
remain in dispersion for long periods of time without the pigment
separating out and clogging the ink jet apparatus. Beach
discloses as useful hydrophobic segments reaction products of
carboxylic acid moieties with a hydrophobe, such as with an
amine, to form an amide. The hydrophilic segment in Beach is
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