Appeal No. 1999-0822 3
Application No. 08/732,866
THE CLAIMS
Claims 1 and 5 are illustrative of appellant’s invention and are reproduced below:
1. A launderable floor covering mat, comprising:
a plurality of tufts disposed in a carrier layer;
a layer of thermoplastic adhesive disposed on the side of the carrier layer
from which the tufts do not extend; and
at least a first layer of vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer including cross-
linked rubber particles dispersed in a matrix of thermoplastic disposed over the
layer of thermoplastic adhesive, wherein the thickness of the first layer of
vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer is greater than about 20 mil and wherein the
floor covering mat possesses suitable flexibility to be laundered by an industrial
washing machine.
5. The floor covering mat of Claim 1, further including a reinforcing layer of
thermoplastic material disposed across the layer of vulcanized thermoplastic
elastomer; and a second layer of vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer disposed in
sealing relation over the reinforcing layer of thermoplastic material wherein the
second layer of vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer has a composition which is
substantially the same as the first layer of vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer. 1
THE REFERENCE OF RECORD
As evidence of obviousness, the examiner relies upon the following reference:
Bistak et al. (Bistak) 4,746,688 May 24,
1988
THE REJECTIONS
Claims 1 through 7 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112, first paragraph, as
containing subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to
Claim 5 as presented in APPENDIX A is substantially incorrect. We review claim 5 as filed with the1
original specification.
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