Appeal No. 1999-0697 Page 4
Application No. 08/743,151
Laumann discloses a coated paper that is not wet-strength
grade, such as a tissue or toilet paper, that will
disintegrate upon toilet flushing disposal thereof. Laumann
teaches a coating that includes a paraffin or microcrystalline
wax and wax modifiers such as ethyl vinyl acetate or other
copolymers or synthetic rubbers that may be used together with
a lining for coating that type of paper (column 1, lines 9-
34). Laumann discloses that “[t]he wax may be further
modified by the inclusion of stearic acid or other stearates
and softened by the inclusion of lanolin, petrolatum or other
wax softeners” (column 1, lines 34-37). According to the
examiner, Laumann
“teaches other modifying agents ... can be utilized in an
amount of about 10 to 30 parts as instantly claimed” and “it
would be obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art to
utilize the stearic acid modifying agent in amounts as set
forth by the patent for other modifying agents” (answer, page
5).
Appellant, on the other hand, points out that while
Laumann discloses stearic acid as an optional ingredient,
Laumann furnishes no examples utilizing stearic acid and does
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