Ex Parte SHAH - Page 5


               Appeal No. 1999-2661                                                                                                   
               Application 08/430,632                                                                                                 

                       We further find that Bossaert discloses low molecular weight resins, “usually less than                        
               5000” molecular weight, which include “hydrocarbon resins” among “[s]uitable resins which can                          
               subsequently be hydrogenated,” wherein                                                                                 
                    Examples of hydrocarbon resins are polymers of coke oven gas, cracked naphtha, gas                                
                    oil and terpene oil.                                                                                              
                       Particularly preferred hydrocarbon resins are hydrogenated petroleum reins. These                              
                    are usually prepared by catalytically hydrogenating a thermally polymerized steam                                 
                    cracked petroleum distillate fraction, especially a fraction having a boiling point of                            
                    between 20° and 280° C. These fractions usually are of compounds having one or                                    
                    more unsaturated cyclic rings in the molecule, such as cyclo dienes, cycloalkenes and                             
                    indenes. It is also possible to hydrogenate resins produced by the catalytic                                      
                    polymerization of unsaturated hydrocarbons. [Col. 1, line 63, to col. 2, line 20.]                                
                       Based on this record, we determine that one of ordinary skill in this art would have                           
               recognized the “low molecular weight” polymeric material required by claim 11 as specified by                          
               the term “hydrocarbon resin” as further characterized in the claim and the specification by the                        
               method and “relatively impure monomer” materials from which it is made.  See generally, In re                          
               Thorpe, 777 F.2d 695, 697, 227 USPQ 964, 966 (Fed. Cir. 1985).  Indeed, it is apparent from the                        
               recitation of the monomeric starting materials in the dictionary definitions and as further seen                       
               from Bossaert that one of ordinary skill in this art would have known that “hydrocarbon resins”                        
               are simply not the carbon and hydrogen containing product of any polymerization process using                          
               any hydrocarbon monomer that contains any type of impurity as the examiner contends (answer,                           
               paragraph bridging pages 6-7).                                                                                         
                       Thus, we must conclude that claim 11 in fact set outs and circumscribes a particular area                      
               with a reasonable degree of precision and particularity, and accordingly, we reverse the ground of                     
               rejection under § 112, second paragraph.                                                                               
                       Turning now to the grounds of rejection under § 103(a),  we have carefully reviewed the                        
               record on this appeal and based thereon find ourselves in agreement with the examiner that the                         
               claimed thermoplastic multi-layer film encompassed by appealed claim 11 would have been                                
               obvious over the combined teachings of Van Iseghem and Bossaert to one of ordinary skill in this                       
               art at the time the claimed invention was made.                                                                        
                       The examiner finds that Van Iseghem teaches that layer 3 of the gas barrier multi-layer                        
               film taught therein can be a polyolefin composition (col. 3, lines 12-13), and that Bossaert                           

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