Appeal No. 2001-0175
Application No. 08/857,585
a composition including (a) high-silica zeolite having a
Si/Al atomic ratio of not less than 40 and an alkali metal
content of 0.1% by weight or less and (b) a heat-resistant oxide
other than zeolite, wherein said heat-resistant oxide is loaded
with a noble metal, and said composition is coated on the
partition walls.
The examiner relies upon the following references as
evidence of obviousness:
Eberly, Jr. et al. (Eberly) 3,591,488 Jul. 6, 1971
Inoue et al. (Inoue) 5,223,236 Jun. 29, 1993
Kawabata et al. (Kawabata) Hei 2-56247 Feb. 26, 1990
(Japanese Patent Specification)
Appellants' claimed invention is directed to an adsorbent
structure comprising a honeycomb which has a composition coated
on its partition walls. The composition comprises a high-silica
zeolite having a Si/Al atomic ratio of not less than 40 and an
alkali metal content of 0.1% by weight or less, and a heat-
resistant oxide, other than zeolite, that is loaded with a noble
metal. According to appellants, "[t]he adsorbent structure of
the present structure is particularly effective in the treatment
of exhaust gases" (page 3 of principal brief, second paragraph).
Appealed claims 3, 5, 6, 12 and 14 stand rejected under
35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Kawabata in view of
either Eberly or Inoue.
Appellants submit at page 4 of the principal brief that
"[c]laims 3, 5, 6, 12, and 14 stand as a unit." Accordingly, all
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