Appeal No. 1999-0989 2
Application No. 08/265,267
brought into contact with a blend of an elastomeric material and a thermoplastic polymer
in specific proportions. The polymeric blend is present in discrete non-clumping
mechanically stable geometric shapes. Additional limitations are disclosed in the following
illustrative claim.
THE CLAIM
Claim 1 is illustrative of appellant’s invention and is reproduced below:
1. A method of removing organic contaminants from contaminated liquid,
gas, soil in fluid form, or mixtures thereof, comprising the steps of:
(a) producing discrete non-clumping mechanically stable geometric shapes of
a blend of elastomeric material with about 5-45% by weight thermoplastic polymer;
(b) providing the shapes in a loose form or packing; and
(c) bringing a fluid containing organic contaminants into contact with the
shapes in loose form or packing so that the shapes absorb organic contaminants
from the fluid.
THE REFERENCES OF RECORD
As evidence of obviousness, the examiner relies upon the following references:
Winkler 3,929,631 Dec. 30, 1975
Biron 4,061,573 Dec. 06,1977
Sugimori et al. (Sugimori) 4,801,386 Jan. 31, 1989
Thirumalachar et al. (Thirumalachar) 4,929,341 May 29, 1990
Gabrick 5,104,548 Apr. 14, 1992
Nakano et al. (Nakano) 53-61165 Jun. 01, 1978
(published Japanese Patent Application) (referred to by the examiner as Japanese
Abstract No. 135702).
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