Appeal No. 2003-0060
Application 09/236,718
Nakamura discloses a staple fiber nonwoven fabric comprising
three-dimensionally entangled constituent fibers including first
and second oleophilic split fibers of not more than 0.5 d, and
hydrophilic cotton or rayon staple fibers (pages 4-5). The
teaching that the fibers are split either indicates that the
fibers are completely split or would have fairly suggested, to
one of ordinary skill in the art, splitting the fibers completely
or nearly completely, i.e., to a degree of at least 85%. The
first and second split staple fibers are fibers which have poor
adherence to each other, i.e., are incompatible, such as
polypropylene and polyester (page 6). Nakamura teaches that his
nonwoven fabric has softness, excellent drapability, good feel to
the hands, and improved sheet strength, and is useful as a wiper
cloth (pages 3 and 5).
Nakamura does not exemplify other fibers which have poor
adherence to each other. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art
would have looked to other references for combinations of
incompatible fibers which provide a nonwoven fabric having the
properties and utility desired by Nakamura.
One such reference is Pike. This reference discloses a
splittable fiber containing at least two incompatible component
polymers, at least one of which is inherently hydrophilic or is
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